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1964-1965
Officers |
Directors |
|
Melvin C. Brown |
President |
Robert H. Glenn |
Don K. Spalding |
1st Vice President |
J. Bert Ritchie |
Findley F. Fiske |
2nd Vice President |
Robert W. Finch |
Edward M. Hirsch |
Secretary |
Milton W. Taylor |
Jacob M. Ford, II |
Treasurer |
Volney H. Whaley |
John E. Schaefer |
Sgt at Arms |
|
Wendell Lawrence |
Asst Sgt at Arms |
|
Ralph Ryman |
Asst Sgt at Arms |
|
President of Rotary International: Charles W. Pettengill, Greenwich, CT
District Governor, District 603: Frank H. Gee, St. Joseph, Mo.
The 54th year of the St. Joseph Rotary Club was a most eventful year and very stimulating. A continuous and active campaign for membership raised our Club membership to an all-time high of 169.
"Determination alone is omnipotent," and this was proven by the efforts of District Governor, Frank Gee, assisted by Past Presidents Russell Peck and Ernest Wadlow in the establishment of our new Rotary Club, St. Joseph East, with a Charter Date of March 19, 1965. Their original membership was 34 with only two members of our St. Joseph Club transferring membership due to the primary location of their business activities.
With the admission of the new Rotary Club, our total Rotary membership in the St. Joseph area, including the St. Joseph South Side club, reached 260.
On April 6, 1965, St. Joseph East Rotary Club and officers were presented with their initial Rotary Charter. 176 Rotarians and their wives and guests attended this most eventful occasion in the Crystal Room of the Hotel Robidoux.
H. Roe Bartle, past District Governor, when we were District 134, was the principle speaker.
Under the leadership of Ralph Ryman, we formed our first bowling team. Captain Ryman rallied around him such experts as Warren Letts, Vern Coder, Glen Bridges, Dick Leflet, and Dr. Thompson Potter. Their first season was one of getting accustomed to bowling together, and they did not fair as well as they might have in the Service Club League. However, the strong prediction was for them to become champions in the years ahead.
In October, a committee composed of Bob Finch, Russell Peck, and Mel Brown, with Bob Finch acting as the chairman and spark plug, promoted a Rotary Golfing trip of 24 Rotarians and their wives to Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor Hotel. This was a four-day affair leaving on Thursday evening and returning to St. Joseph early Monday morning. The prediction from the first such trip is that this may very easily become an annual fall event for those who are especially interested in golfing.
On the date of August 12, with the good assistance of the South Side Club, the 10th Annual rotary Golf Tournament was held with approximately 129 attending the evening dinner, and a substantial number participating in the golfing event. This is open to the entire District #603, and each year it becomes evident that the program is more popular and more widely attended.
Our club participated strongly in the Annual Service Club Day Kettle Drive of the Salvation Army. This project is one under the Special Activities Committee chaired by Past President Ed Gookins.
Due to the death of Dr. Walter Kimball on July 2, 1964, Whitney Potter accepted the responsibilities of Program Chairman, assisted by Harry F. Barton. Dr. Walter Kimball had accepted the responsibility of Program Chairman for 40 years and had ably served the Club with excellent programs. Dr. Kimball was the last charter member of the Club who was still active in the Club and had a perfect attendance record of 38 years.
Under the direction of Whitney Potter, our programs were varied appreciably and a wider variety of subjects was introduced.
During the week of June 7, St. Joseph played host to the N.A.I.A National College Baseball "World Series", and the committee set aside a special Service Club Day when they invited members of all the service clubs to attend the game during their normal meeting time. The Holiday Inn furnished the box lunch, and the clubs contributed to the National College Baseball "World Series", the difference between the cost of the box lunch and our normal luncheon. In this way we took an active part in participating in the financing of this excellent program.
Four members of our club attended the Rotary International Convention in Atlantic City from May 30 to June 3. They were the immediate president, Findley F. Fiske, and incoming second vice president, Milton W. Taylor.
On March 18, 1965, Mrs. Alta L. Gerard was hired as Executive Secretary. For nearly 20 years, her Rotary husband, Glenn D. Gerard, a member of the South Side St. Joseph Rotary Club, has been District Rotary Secretary. We are very happy to have them on the St. Joseph Rotary Club Team, and we feel that with their vast knowledge of Rotary and many years of experience, they will be a very valuable asset to the Club.