Rotary Club of Chariton
The Rotary Club of Chariton Charter #1666 District 600 was organized on Februrary 16, 1924, and admitted to membership in Rotary International on March 12, 1924. Our sponsoring club was the Albia club and their representative was Charles P. Miller. The Charter officers were: President Hunter T. Wilson; Vice President, Edward P. Smith; Secretary, Charles F. Wennerstrum; Treasurer, Frederick S. Risser and Sergeant-At-Arms, Dean P. Frasher.
The Charter Membership Board of Directors, in addition to these officers, included Arch Jones, Hugh R. Brown and Oscar J. Israel. The other charter members were: Ray Reed, Willard H. Perry, Robert E. Larimer, Lloyd L. Hook, Harry B. Stuart, Joseph E. Wright, Dean P. Frasher, Henry F. McCollough, T. J. Nichols, Everett H. Perry, Peter P. Paton and Dr. A. L. Yocom. The district governor at that time was Carl Weeks of Des Moines.
While it is not possible, in this limited space, to make an extensive review of the activities and services of the club over the past 75 years, this is an attempt to highlight the memorable aspects of our club.
One of the real highlights of the first half century existence of The Rotary Club of Chariton was the club's participation in the 50th anniversary of Rotary International in 1955. In the week of April 11, 1955, the Chariton Leader carried a story that read as follows:
"Marion M. Coons was president of the Rotary Club then, and the Chariton organization went all out to insure a proper and fitting observance of the International's first 50 years.
"A parade of horse drawn carriages and old cars circled the square, setting the tone for 1905, the year Rotary International was founded.
"Rotarians and their wives rode in the carriages.
"Following the parade everyone gathered at the old Ilion Mansion for photographs, group singing and other festivities.
"President Coons made a few remarks and Dr. Albert Yocom, who was presient of the club during the 1930-31 term, read a history of the Chariton Rotarians.
"Joe Hixenbaugh, who was to serve as president of the local club the next year, read a history of Rotary International and District Governor Paul Hellwege, of Boone, made a few remarks.
"Then Leo Hoegh, who had served as president of the Chariton Club in 1946-47, talked to the assembled group. At this time he was Iowa's Governor.
An account of the occasion in the Chariton Herald-Patriot said that "Chariton Rotary turned the clock back to 1905 Wednesday as members observed the 50th anniversary of Rotary International. The City's Historic Mansion echoed again to the sounds of a party as the Rotarians and their wives, dressed in costumes of the period, gathered for the festivities.
"The re-enactment of the 1905 era, by the Chariton Rotary Club, earned the local Rotarians statewide publicity."
A primary object of the club is to serve the youth of the community. In the past the club has sponsored representatives to the American Legion Boys State, a little league baseball team, a city government day for high school seniors, and annual banquet for the high school football squads, awards for the 4-H programs and assistance to the Boy Scouts program. It has invited four seniors to attend each Rotary meeting during the school year, placed the Rotarian magazine in the high school and city library and hosted youth exchange students from various parts of the world. The club continues to be active in district and international activities by participating in the Group Study Exchange program. The club has hosted teams from all parts of the world and recently has sent Jane Rau, the French teacher at Russell, to France on a Group Study Exchange team trip in 1994.
The club has many Paul Harris fellows, proceeds of which go to fund The Rotary Foundation. The club has three past District Governors, Lynn Johnson in 1974-75, C. Kenneth Crist in 1986-87 and Corliss Klaassen 2005-06. Also in 1970, Lynn Johnson represented our district in an exchange program with South Africa.
The club has been active in many other projects over the years.
The membership in 1999 was 65