The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was formed on February 23, 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The name "Rotary" derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Rotary's popularity spread throughout the United States in the decade that followed. Clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.

As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving the professional and social interests of club members. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organization's dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its principal motto: Service above self. During and after World War II, Rotarians became increasingly involved in promoting international understanding. In 1945, forty-nine Rotary members served in twenty-nine delegations to the United Nations Charter Conference. Rotary still actively participates in UN conferences by sending observers to major meetings and promoting the United Nations in Rotary publications. Rotary International's relationship with the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) dates back to a 1943 London Rotary conference that promoted international cultural and educational exchanges. Attending by ministers of education and observers from around the world, and chaired by a past president of RI, the conference was an impetus to establishment of UNESCO in 1946.Interact was official inaugurated on October 28, 1962. The foundation was a service club for youth at the secondary level in school. Rotary wanted a new approach at youth service and empower youth to make a difference.On November 5, 1962 the first interact club was started at Melbourne High School in Florida. The first thirty-nine members were all males and in their last three years of secondary level schooling. After only one year there were 177 clubs in 24 different countries. In October of 1964, the number had increased to 450 clubs in 35 countries. In 1967, the club was finally open to females and to anyone in their last four years of secondary school. Between 1967 and 1978, "Rotary International Awards for International Understanding" recognized Interact clubs that took on projects which improved international understanding and goodwill. Since 1991, Interact clubs were recognized by World Interact Week. It is celebrated every year during the week of November 5. Throughout the week Interactors work with Rotarians on a variety of service projects.

Interact clubs continue to grow and spread across the world to show that they are ready for international action.