The first Rotary Club was founded by Paul Harris on February 23, 1905, in Chicago, Illinois. White Plains received its charter on October 1, 1919 (number 540).
RCWP is part of District 7230, which as of 2006 had 47 clubs located in Westchester, Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and Bermuda. White Plains is the fourth oldest club in the district: only New York, Bronx, and Mount Vernon were chartered before White Plains.
In the Spring of 1919, William L. Leeney, formerly Chairman of the Board of Genung’s Department Stores, was urged by a member of the New York City Rotary Club to organize a club in White Plains. Bill thought well of the idea and invited several local business and professional men to meet and discuss the possibility of such an organization. All were in hearty agreement.
On the evening of June 4, 1919, eight Rotarians from New York met with nineteen White Plainsmen at the Orawaupum Hotel, which was located at the South West corner of Main and Orawaupum Streets. The necessary steps were taken: officers and directors were elected, a schedule of initiation fees and dues was adopted. Application for a charter was made to Rotary International and was approved.
On October 1, 1919, Charter number 540 was presented to the Club at an evening of entertainment in the ballroom of the White Plains Club, a social organization occupying the second floor of the building at the southwest Corner of Mamaroneck and Martine Avenue.
