ROTARY CLUB OF UNIVERSITY AREA HOUSTON HISTORY

 Our Rotary Club is part of Rotary International, the world's first service club organization beginning in 1905, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000.00 clubs in over 165 countries worldwide. Rotary International is a NGO (Non- Governmental Organization) member of the United Nations. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio under the motto "SERVICE ABOVE SELF."

 

The Rotary Club of Houston sponsored the Rotary Club of the University Area- Houston while Merrill Brown was president.  The club was chartered February 26, 1946,  It was the fourth Rotary Club to be formed in Houston. The charter was presented Saturday, March 9, 1946, in the Rice Hotel. Reverend Tom Sumners pushed for establishment of the club and became the first president.

 

Rumor has it our club was the first club in the USA to meet at night. The club met on Mondays in the Varsity Room at Ye Olde College Inn located on Main Street about where Diagnostic Hospital is today.

 

During our first eight years of existence we had participated with gift TV’s for the VA Hospital, $8,000 gift for the Hedgecroft Clinic, furnished two rooms at Texas Children’s Hospital, and worked with the Harris County Emergency Corps.  Now our club participates in helping along with other clubs major international projects including water lines in Matamoros, fire equipment for Tampico as well as helping other non-profits like Special Cheers and the Boys and Girls Country.  We also help raise funds to end polio in the world and provide an apartment for fire fighters coming to Houston to fight their #1 killer-cancer. Service Above Self is truly our main motto.

 

By 1957 the Club meetings were held in the Trinity Episcopal Church, in 1960 we moved to Milford House then to the Warwick Hotel in 1963. In 1982 the club moved to the R-Room above Rice University Stadium. In May 2005 the club moved to the Hilton Plaza Medical Center.  After several years we had to make a decision to become a breakfast club and then moved to Hungry’s Bistro in Rice Village.  When Hungry’s Bistro built a new location we then moved to the Herman Park Club House where we meet today.

 

Rotary Club of University Area gets its name from the several Universities in the area – Rice, University of Houston and the medical and nursing Universities within the Texas Medical Center complex.

 

To the Club’s everlasting good fortune, Sue Ofield began providing the music in 1965 and continued until we moved from the Hilton Hotel. Marilyn Davis became the Corresponding Secretary in 1986 and held this position until she retired in 2005.  These ladies contributed greatly to making us one of the distinguished clubs in District 5890.

 

The Club conducted its first “Shrimp Peel” fundraiser in 1966.  This tradition continued through 2000 at which time the revered Shrimp Peel was discontinued. For the next three years we sponsored a Golf Tournament and Dinner fundraiser that was not too successful. In 2003 the club dropped the major annual fundraiser activity altogether. We ask each member to make an annual fundraiser contribution to our club’s 501 c ( 3 ) ---The University Area Rotary Foundation. Since that time we have begun to have annual fund raisers at Saint Arnold’s Brewery and had a successful golf tournament. The club's major fundraiser is the Rotary Flag Program where US & Texas Flags are placed in subscribers yards 4 holidays a year.  If you are interested in helping to fund our charities please click on Order US & Texas Flags Here on the line at the top of the page. 

 

Our club also helps raise funds to end Polio in the world and sponsors The Rotary Fire Fighters Home (a 501 c 3 non-profit) which provides apartments for fire fighters coming to the Houston Medical Center to fight their #1 killer-cancer.   For more information on this wonderful humanitarian project click  here THE ROTARY FIRE FIGHTERS HOME.

 

Five Houston area Rotary clubs have been sponsored by this club: Bellaire-SW (1956), River Oaks (1959), Sharpstown (1962), Almeda-Post Oak (1971) and

West U. (1995).

 

All Rotary Clubs believe in "SERVICE ABOVE SELF". Members also practice in their lives and businesses THE FOUR WAY TEST OF THE THINGS WE THINK, SAY OR DO:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
We apply these principals to our projects locally, regionally and internationally.