Miscellaneous

1986 - Two Chariton High School students were selected for Rotary sponsorship events.  The first was the 1986 World Affairs Seminar, held June 8-13 at the University of Wisconsin in Whitewater.  Selected were Marc Masters, a junior with a strong academic record in Social Science and the son of Morgan and Mary Masters.  The second event was the 1986 Business Horizons, held July 27-August 2 at Drake University.  Chosen was Caryl Pierschbacher, daughter of Lloyd and Mary Pierschbacher.

1986 - On February 7, 1986, a small German town near the French border was the destination of Leah Mitzner, Chariton High School senior, as she completed her AFS student program the year before, aided by a grant from the Rotary Club of Chariton.  Leah shared with the club on February 7, 1986, her "experience of a lifetime" that included insights into a foreign education system that channels students into either trade or higher learning schools at a young age.  Her German family of five, with two teenage girls and one boy, shared their daily living eagerly with Leah, who told of an eating routine that included a heavy breakfast, a hot full course lunch, an afternoon coffee break and a light supper of sandwiches and drinks.

1988 - Women were admitted into the Rotary Club of Chariton.  The first woman was Shirley Goode on 06-01-1988 until November of 1990.  Karen Holder became a member on 07-01-1988 until June 1994.  Ruby Hanson joined on 11-01-1988 until October 1995.  Sharon Kline also joined on 11-01-1988 until December 2000. 

1992 - John Baldridge, Dr. J.G. Garton and Virgil Meyer were honored as 50 year Rotarians.

1995 - On July 7, 1995, Sharon Kline became the first female president of the Rotary Club of Chariton.

1996 - Our club celebrated the 50 year membership of Dwight C. Vredenburg, whose sponsor in 1946 was Leo Hoegh, who later became governor for the state of Iowa.  In 1926 the annual dues were $30 and in 1941 the Rotary meal was 51 cents.

1997 - Our club was known for its singing, led by Stan Vander Woude on the piano and various song leaders from the club.  Scott Raecker, promoter of the Iowa Sesquicentennial Celebration from the Des Moines Register, on November 7, 1997, presented the Chariton Rotary Club with the "Iowa rotary Cup" as official recognition that it is Iowa's best-singing Rotary club.  "You'll notice it's a traveling trophy" Raecker said.  "Since I'm still out on the road speaking in Iowa, I'm going to make it an annual contest." Our club was featured in the Des Moines Register's Iowa Boy column for "Best Singing Club in the State."

1997 - The Rotary International Convention was in Calgary, Canada and those attending from our club were:  Jerry & Sarah Davis, Dan & Deb Kent, Corliss & Jeanne Klaassen, Bill McCroskey & daughter Erika, Dick & Peggy Stoffer, Bob & Kay Ulrich, Stan & Alma Vander Woude

1997 - A group of Rotarians and their spouses attended an Iowa Cubs baseball game, in Des Moines, going as a group on a chartered bus.

It was announced at the August 28, 1998, Rotary meeting that a celebration party for 75 years will be held at the Chariton Country Club, on April 17, 1999.

High school seniors are invited to our club meetings every Friday noon.

2007 - Our club started using Quick Books for our financials.  This allowed us to have better records & reports at our fingertips.

A weekly bulletin was produced for many years.  An email bulletin has been sent out weekly since June 24, 2008 by Jeanne Klaassen

2014 - Our club held it's 90th Anniversary celebration at the Charitone Market Grill on June 22nd at the Hotel Charitone which was where the club held it's first meeting in 1924.

2014 - Our club gave 50 flash drives for the Back to School Night at a cost of $200.

Our club contributes $255 to FAMSCO (Fire and Medical Supply Company) which is $5 per member & $255 to IOWA M.O.S.T. (Iowa Miles of Smiles Team) each year.