Inner Wheel
{{Short description|Rotary women's organization}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Inner Wheel
| full_name = International Inner Wheel
| logo = File:Inner_Wheel_logo.png
| logo_size =
| logo_alt = Two concentric blue and yellow gears; the inner one reads "Inner Wheel"
| logo_caption = Where members volunteer in friendship to serve the communities worldwide.
| image = File:01161jfBarangays Buildings San Antonio Streets Makati Cityfvf 09.jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Stucco building behind with lettering reading "Inner Wheel Clubs of the Phil. (IWCPI)"
| caption = Office in the Philippines
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| abbreviation = IIW
| named_after = Rotary Club emblem
| predecessor =
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| formation = {{start date and age|1924|01|10}}
| founder = Margarette Golding
| founding_location = Manchester, England
| dissolved =
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| type = Women's organization
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| headquarters = Suite 2.3 MyBuro
20 Market Street
Altrincham, Cheshire
WA14 1PF
| location_city =
| location_country = United Kingdom
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| region_served = Global
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| membership = 103,000{{cite web |url=https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/8755998/inner-wheel-celebrates-100-years-of-service-and-friendship-for-women/ |title=How Inner Wheel's women uplift each other and their communities |last=Caggiano |first=Anthony |author-link= |date=13 October 2024 |work=The Senior |publisher=Australian Community Media |publication-place=Wyong, New South Wales |language=en |access-date=17 May 2025}}
| membership_year = 2024
| language =
| owner =
| sec_gen =
| leader_title = President
| leader_name = Mamta Gupta
| board_of_directors =
| key_people =
| main_organ = International Governing Body (Executive Committee and Board of Directors)
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| affiliations = Rotary International
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| awards = Margarette Golding Award
| website = {{URL|https://www.internationalinnerwheel.org/}}
}}
Inner Wheel is an international women's organisation affiliated with the Rotary Club. The group provides a mix of social and charity functions in over 100 countries.
History
The organisation was officially founded on 10 January 1924 by Margarette Golding, a nurse, businesswoman and the wife of a Manchester Rotarian.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/north-wales-birthplace-international-womens-12816962 |title=North Wales birthplace of international women's group founder revealed |last=Crump |first=Eryl |author-link= |date=8 April 2017 |work=Daily Post |publisher=Reach plc |publication-place=Colwyn Bay |language=en-UK |access-date=17 May 2025}} She met with 26 other wives of Rotarians in November 1923. The first official Inner Wheel meeting was held on 10 January 1924 – this date is now known as "International Inner Wheel Day". This organisation was originally established for the wives and daughters of Rotarians although no Rotary connection is now required. Gradually other groups formed themselves into Inner Wheel Clubs and in 1934 the Association of Inner Wheel Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland was formed.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NDQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=The Inner Wheel |last=Petitt |first=Jenette M. |author-link= |date=April 1982 |work=The Rotarian |publisher=Rotary International |publication-place=Evanston, Illinois |pages=22-23 |volume=140 |number=5 |language=en-US |access-date=May 18, 2025 |issn=0035-838X |via=Google Books}}
File:Shrewsbury Inner Wheel Ladies' Night (1505107).jpg, 1952|alt=Singers holding individual signs with a single letter that collectively spell "Inner Wheel"]]
The number of clubs around the world grew and in 1967 the International Inner Wheel came into being. There are clubs in many countries around the world. Inner Wheel clubs are grouped into districts with twenty-nine districts within Great Britain and Ireland. Helena Foster, who was the President in 1969–70, proposed that "Inner Wheel Day" should be celebrated on 10 January each year on the day that the original Manchester group adopted the name of "Inner Wheel" in 1924.{{cite book |last1=Douglas |first1=Trish |last2=Farcon |first2=Zenaida |last3=Lunani |first3=Sarita |last4=Michelsen |first4=Sissel Høihjelle |last5=Phillips |first5=Alan |last6=Hathaway |first6=Elaine |collaboration= |date=January 2024 |year= |location= |editor-last=Cheng |editor-first=Yeok San |title=Inner Wheels: 100 Years of Friendship & Service |title-link= |url=https://www.internationalinnerwheel.org/ |url-access= |format=PDF |department= |type= |language=English |others=Gupta, Mamta; Remmler-Bellen, Dorothée; Arnoldus-Luiten, Marlies; Atkinson, Michelle; & Raghunandan, Prabha |name-list-style=& |edition= |publication-place=Cheshire |publisher=Internaional Inner Wheel |page= |pages= |isbn= |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-format= |archive-date= |access-date=17 May 2025 |via=Google Drive}}
The Inner Wheel expanded to become a global organisation. In 1973. it gained consultative status with the United Nations{{cite web |url=https://docs.un.org/en/E/2023/INF/5 |title=
List of non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council as at 31 December 2022 |last= |first= |author-link= |date=4 April 2023 |work=ECOSOC |publisher=United Nations |page=163 |publication-place=New York City |language=en |id=E/2023/INF/5 |access-date=17 May 2025}} in order to advocate on behalf of women.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2020/business/inner---wheel-club-celebrates-the-united---nations--75-th-anniversary.html |title=Inner Wheel Club celebrates the United Nations 75th Anniversary |last= |first= |author-link= |date=28 September 2020 |work=The Pioneer |publisher=CMYK Printech |publication-place=Lucknow |language=en |access-date=17 May 2025}} In 2012, the group opened their membership to all women over the age of 18 and stopped requiring that spouses be a member of the Rotary. Thus, they ceased to be a women's auxiliary but remained affiliated with Rotary International. By 2024, the organization counts 103,000 members across over 100 countries.
Activities
file:Sue Morris of Inner Wheel for Rotary International.jpg
The shared Inner Wheel objectives are promoting true friendship, encouraging the ideals of personal service, and fostering international understanding but Individual chapters accomplish those goals based on local resources and interest. Socially, groups may meet for lunch{{cite web |url=https://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/column-a-jolly-good-lunch-and-5000-bras-at-inner-wheels-meeting-5055986 |title=Column: A jolly good lunch and 5,000 bras at Inner Wheel's meeting |last=Thomas|first=Yvette |author-link= |date=28 March 2025 |work=Workshop Guardian |publisher=National World |publication-place=Sheffield |language=en-UK |access-date=17 May 2025}} or sing karaoke.{{cite web |url=https://www.sarawaktribune.com/inner-wheel-district-331-celebrates-unity-and-service-at-fellowship-night/ |title=Inner Wheel District 331 celebrates unity and service at fellowship night |last=Ringgit |first=Margaret |author-link= |date=26 March 2025 |work=Sarawak Tribune |publisher= |publication-place= |language=en |access-date=17 May 2025}} For supporting charity, support includes raising funds for local hospitals{{cite web |url=https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/community/local-inner-wheel-club-supports-mk-hospital-charities-4772482 |title=Local Inner Wheel club supports MK Hospital charities |last=Hills |first=Maureen |author-link= |date=16 September 2024 |work=MK Citizen |publisher=National World |publication-place=Milton Keynes |language=en-UK |access-date=17 May 2025}} or plant trees.{{cite web |url=https://garhwalpost.in/itbp-rotary-club-inner-wheel-club-plant-400-saplings-in-mussoorie/ |title=ITBP, Rotary Club, Inner Wheel Club plant 400 saplings in Mussoorie |last= |first=|author-link= |date=14 July 2024 |work=Garwhal Post |publisher= |publication-place=Uttarakhand |language=en |access-date=17 May 2025}} To promote global understanding, groups have hosted a Pan-African forum{{cite web |url=https://von.gov.ng/inner-wheel-nigeria-to-host-38th-conference-in-lagos/ |title=Inner Wheel Nigeria to Host 38th Conference in Lagos |last=Balogun |first=Luqmon |author-link= |date=4 February 2024 |work=Voice of Nigeria |publisher=Government of Nigeria |publication-place= |language=en |access-date=17 May 2025}} and celebrated International Women's Day.{{cite web |url=https://regionriverina.com.au/inner-wheel-corowa-volunteers-gear-up-for-fundraising-luncheon/52851/ |title=Inner Wheel Corowa volunteers gear up for fundraising luncheon |last=Hayden |first=Vanessa |author-link= |date=27 February 2024 |work=Region Riverina |publisher=Region Group |publication-place= |language=en |access-date=17 May 2025}}