Club History
1. The Bismarck Rotary Club was founded by Ray Bergeson, March 20, 1920; receiving its charter on March 24, 1920, with 25 charter members.
2. Official Publication, The Buffalo Horn, publication began 1921. The first author/editor was George F. Will 1921 - 1931. The second author/editor for about 50 years was George Bird 1931 - 1980. The third longtime author/editor was Bob MacLeod 1989 - 1995.
3. The tradition of the gavels. Each incoming president of the Bismarck Rotary Club is presented two gavels; one for the new president and another for the historical collection of the club. The gavel is representative of the vocation of the club president. Two display cases house these gavels. Art May, longtime Rotarian, now deceased, manufactured many of these gavels today Rotarian Allen Fisk continues this tradition.
4. The Burleigh County 4-H banquet has been sponsored annually by the Bismarck Rotary Club since 1938. It has been held at Bismarck State College in recent years. We currently serve over 200 4-H boys and girls and their leaders at each banquet.
5. Guy Larson and Charles Whittey, both deceased, and Robert W. Peterson and Al Watrel have served as District Governors.
6. An arboretum, co-sponsored by the Bismarck Rotary Club and Bismarck Parks and Recreation has been established in Northwest Bismarck. Rotary Park tree plantings were the dream, of George Bird and John Hjelle, both longtime Rotarians. Today the arboretum has 29 varieties of trees native to the state 100 years ago. Allen Fisk has chaired this committee in recent years. Carolyn Godfread has prepared a sixteen page brochure, which provides tree identification and classifications. There are many other trees and grasses, in addition to those native to the area, in the Rotary Arboretum.
7. Ninty-four presidents have served this club since 1920. There are thirty-three living past presidents of the club. Most are still active in club activities.
8. Past president, Mary Jane (Chaussee) Schmaltz, was the first female Rotarian in the Bismarck Rotary Club (1988). President 1993-1994.
9. Gail Hagerty was the first Rotarian in the history of the club to give birth to a child while a member of Rotary (1990).
10. The Bismarck Rotary Club currently has 40 Paul Harris Fellows, and eight Multiple Paul Harris Fellows. 2006.
11. The club sponsors scholarships every year.
12. George Bird and Admiral E.J. Taylor (Ret.), co-authored History of the City of Bismarck, North Dakota, The First 100 years 1872-1972, for the Bismarck Centennial Celebration.
 13. Leonard W. Larson, M.D., past president of the Bismarck Rotary Club, served as President of the prestigious American Medical Association 1961-1962. He was featured on the cover of TIME magazine on July 7, 1961. A summary of the achievements of Dr. Larson has been prepared by Dr. Clifford Peters, a longtime Bismarck Rotarian. It is placed with other Rotary records now on file with the North Dakota Historical Society.
14. The Bismarck Rotary sponsors an annual High School Wrestling Tournament, Salvation Army bell ringers, student recognition programs, annual scouting recognition luncheon, and many other worthwhile activities.
15. The Bismarck Rotary Club banner collection is displayed each week with Rotary Banners from throughout the world.
16. The club has sponsored group study exchange groups from Great Britain, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Mexico, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden. We have frequently hosted and sponsored foreign exchange students.
17. The club's site on the World Wide Web began in September 2002.
18. The club's Facebook site began in July 2010.
[Revised as of August 2011. Updated from the Historical Summary of the Bismarck Rotary Club - January 1996.]
Bismarck, North Dakota, U.S.A. - Club No. 1414 - District 5580 - Chartered March 24, 1920
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