In 1977, Madison South Rotary welcomed its first Youth Exchange student, Youshie Hirai from Kisarazu, Japan. She quickly embraced American culture, attending West High and forming close bonds with her host families. As a gift from her home Rotary Club, she presented the Madison South Club with a ceremonial brass bell, which began a lighthearted cultural exchange that culminated in the Club gifting her a Native American headdress and peace pipe. Over the years, the bell was passed from president to president, occasionally lost, misplaced, or forgotten—only to be rediscovered and revived as a symbol of tradition. Today, it's a cherished artifact polished and displayed by each incoming Club president, who is also tasked with sharing its unique story.By Dick RehbergAs President of Rotary South in 1977-78, I had the privilege of bringing the Club's first Rotary Youth Exchange Student into our midst. Youshie Hirai arrived in Madison from Kisarazu, Japan, on a hot summer day in August 1977. A delegation from the Club met her at the Dane County Airport. She had been on airplanes, her first, for many hours and could only bow and say, "Thank you very much." With us were President Elect John Youngquist and his wife Kitty, her "Host Family" for part of the year. We all fell in love with her from first sight. Perhaps it was her ever-present smile and enthusiasm. It wasn't long before she was part of her first host family and our small Rotary family, as well.
Attending West High, she learned English quickly and took up all the current fads from jeans to the Friday night dances at West. As I recall, her shyness quickly disappeared, and she prided herself in being "Americanized." She was very impressed with living in "wild Indian Country," though I don't think she ever saw an Indian... more on that later.
Youshie visited the Club as our Exchange Students do. One day early on, she arrived with a rather large box. Much as visiting Rotarians exchange club flags, she proceeded to present to me an impressive brass bell in a glass case. In broken English, she said it was, "A gift from the President of the Kisarazu Rotary Club to the “Chief of the Madison South Rotary Club of the USA." It seems I had accepted what appeared to be the key to the City of Kisarazu! I sent a glowing letter of thanks to the Kisarazu Rotary Club on our official Madison South Rotary stationary. The bell, in a place of honor in my office, was a sight to behold.
And as John and Kitty will tell you, living with Youshie was not only fun, but also, most educational. The time of parting was drawing near. I had asked everyone what could we send with Yoshie that could possibly come close to the Kisarazu Bell? I had to come up with something by Changing of the Guard time and the Club's "farewell" to this remarkable young lady
Then, in April I was in Atlanta on business and in casual conversation over dinner told the story of the Kisarazu Bell. It was suggested that if the Japanese do indeed think Wisconsin is still wild Indian Country, why not continue the myth? But, with what? "How about a huge Chief's headdress or a peace pipe," was the response? Yes, but it would have to be authentic and where in Atlanta or even in Wisconsin Dells could I beg, borrow or steal an authentic, battle-worn Chieftain's headdress to say nothing of an authentic Indian peace pipe?
Early the next day we were on the road to the Great Smokey Mountains, home of the Eastern Cherokee Nation. Out of the mist at the top of a mountain road a huge "Trading Post" appeared almost as if ordained to do so. Once inside, it was only moments before an aged Native American appeared, and we told him of our mission. Then, low and behold, what appeared to our wondering eyes was a huge multi-feathered headdress certainly worthy of the highest chieftain of any tribe!
Needless to say, I was not about to haggle, but I was assured it was "authentic' and I saw no "made in Taiwan" sticker. By this time, we were becoming friends and when I told what had become a rather large group of curious Indians this was to go to a "Chief" in Japan, the bond was completed and an "authentic" peace pipe was "thrown in" for good luck!
Needless to say, I was not about to haggle, but I was assured it was "authentic' and I saw no "made in Taiwan" sticker. By this time, we were becoming friends and when I told what had become a rather large group of curious Indians this was to go to a "Chief" in Japan, the bond was completed and an "authentic" peace pipe was "thrown in" for good luck!
Thus, at the Changing of the Guard Party, Yoshie, amongst tears and bows, accepted our gift of the headdress and the peace pipe on a plaque with the inscription; *In the name of eternal peace. From the Rotary Club of Madison South USA to the Rotary Club of Kisarazu, Japan."
There followed in a month or so a letter from the Kisarazu club's "Chief" that, when translated, was very much like the one I had sent him. It was, however, on rice paper.
John Younquist adds the following:
Yoshie stayed with 1) The Achterbergs, 2) Phil and Carole Enger, and with 3) The Youngquists. She was with us during the spring and summer. Several interesting items, at least to Kitty and to me were:
She called me "Dad" from the day she arrived in our home, and that endeared her to me. She had gained quite a bit of weight over the winter, so she was on a walking kick when she arrived at our home. She would walk from Arbor Hills to West High and back.
One day, we had a terrible rainstorm, and she got soaked. She stopped in the Avon Liquor store on the Beltline service road to get out of the rain, and explained her plight to the owner. He drove her home that day. She was rather bedraggled when she finally arrived back to Leyton Lane.
Yoshie stayed with 1) The Achterbergs, 2) Phil and Carole Enger, and with 3) The Youngquists. She was with us during the spring and summer. Several interesting items, at least to Kitty and to me were:
She called me "Dad" from the day she arrived in our home, and that endeared her to me. She had gained quite a bit of weight over the winter, so she was on a walking kick when she arrived at our home. She would walk from Arbor Hills to West High and back.
One day, we had a terrible rainstorm, and she got soaked. She stopped in the Avon Liquor store on the Beltline service road to get out of the rain, and explained her plight to the owner. He drove her home that day. She was rather bedraggled when she finally arrived back to Leyton Lane.
Kitty and I have visited her in Tokyo/Kisarazu twice now, and have met her two children and her husband. They toured us around and we shared many memories during our visit. Having her stay with us was a real highlight and was a very special occasion for our kids. Karen has visited her in Tokyo as well.
One wonders what may have happened to the headdress and peace pipe? Perhaps a delegation of members should be sent to Japan.
Current History:
In the spring of 2004, we were talking around the table at a regular meeting and it was asked who was the Club’s first Exchange Student. I naturally talked about Yoshie and then pondered, "I wonder what ever happened to the Bell?" George Croal sitting at the next table heard my question and responded, "I have it." Recollections (below) expand on how and why he had it, but it was decided that he would bring it to the next Changing of the Guard party so that President Joe Balles could present it to the incoming president, Jacci See. He said he would. However, when the day came, George couldn't remember that the party was at The Madison Club, so he went to the Elks Club looking for us and never did make that party. The presentation had to be made at the next meeting. (See photo on the Photo Page,) Jacci writes: "When I received it, it really needed polishing and the glass box it was in was in need of repair, so husband and fellow member, Ted See, took it upon himself to polish it and repair the box. It has graced my office all year and has been a "conversational piece" during my term.
In the spring of 2004, we were talking around the table at a regular meeting and it was asked who was the Club’s first Exchange Student. I naturally talked about Yoshie and then pondered, "I wonder what ever happened to the Bell?" George Croal sitting at the next table heard my question and responded, "I have it." Recollections (below) expand on how and why he had it, but it was decided that he would bring it to the next Changing of the Guard party so that President Joe Balles could present it to the incoming president, Jacci See. He said he would. However, when the day came, George couldn't remember that the party was at The Madison Club, so he went to the Elks Club looking for us and never did make that party. The presentation had to be made at the next meeting. (See photo on the Photo Page,) Jacci writes: "When I received it, it really needed polishing and the glass box it was in was in need of repair, so husband and fellow member, Ted See, took it upon himself to polish it and repair the box. It has graced my office all year and has been a "conversational piece" during my term.
On June 24, 2005, Jacci See relinquished the Bell to Rob Gooze Club president 2005-2006.
So, the tradition goes on with one addition: The incoming president must polish the bell, place it in a conspicuous place in his or her office for the year and tell the story to all who ask... or even if they don't ask. -RER
Bill Mundt adds this information:
The bell was not lost for 20 years. I had it in 1989-90 and passed it on to Ron Hillson who passed it on to Ray Singel. Ray died in office and was followed by Ann Randall who also died in office. My recollection was the bell was passed to Ann. Randy followed Ann so you can check with him if he ever had it. We had moved to our present location by the time Ann was President. George said he found the bell in the room in the Sheraton storage room where the club's stuff is kept and the hotel was about to throw it out.
As I was thinking about this, I also have this somewhat fuzzy recollection that Ann said she was afraid to take the bell home with her because she likely would forget to bring it back. Perhaps she had begun to have symptoms from her brain tumor that were not yet explainable. I also have a fuzzy recollection of asking about the bell some months after Ann died, but we were reluctant to ask Ann's mother about it after the tragedy of losing her daughter. Anyway, if she was asked, she could not find it.
As I was thinking about this, I also have this somewhat fuzzy recollection that Ann said she was afraid to take the bell home with her because she likely would forget to bring it back. Perhaps she had begun to have symptoms from her brain tumor that were not yet explainable. I also have a fuzzy recollection of asking about the bell some months after Ann died, but we were reluctant to ask Ann's mother about it after the tragedy of losing her daughter. Anyway, if she was asked, she could not find it.
6-29-05 - The Latest from Bill:
I have done a bit more sleuthing and have checked with Randy Sproule and George Croal. Here are the results to date.
1. The bell was given to all presidents through Ray Singel who died 3 weeks before his term ended in June 2002
2. I have a recollection of the bell being given to Ann Randall but am not positive of that. Ann was diagnosed with a brain tumor two weeks into her term and was replaced by Randy Sproule who served the rest of Ann's term and his own term. He did not receive the bell when he began his own term.
3. The bell was brought back sometime between the end of Randy's term in 1995 and before he was Sgt at Arms in 1997 and 1998. Randy found the bell in the room at the Sheraton and took it to his apartment
4. As you know Randy gave up his apartment when he married Lynn in July 1998. She told him to "get rid of that stuff before we get married" meaning not only the bell but the other Rotary paraphernalia (and other items a bachelor would accumulate which wives cannot stand), so he brought it back to the Sheraton
5. When he brought it back Paul Downey was completing his term as president and my recollection was, he did not want it. Louise Googins succeeded Paul and my recollection was she was afraid she would forget it. Anyway, it languished in the closet at the Sheraton for several years.
The Sheraton decided to discontinue the Club's use of the closet in approximately 2001 and was about to discard the bell when George Croal learned of their plans. He took the bell to his home and kept it there until someone recently inquired what happened to it.
7. It was presented to Rob Gooze at the Changing of the Guard party on June 24, 2005.
I have done a bit more sleuthing and have checked with Randy Sproule and George Croal. Here are the results to date.
1. The bell was given to all presidents through Ray Singel who died 3 weeks before his term ended in June 2002
2. I have a recollection of the bell being given to Ann Randall but am not positive of that. Ann was diagnosed with a brain tumor two weeks into her term and was replaced by Randy Sproule who served the rest of Ann's term and his own term. He did not receive the bell when he began his own term.
3. The bell was brought back sometime between the end of Randy's term in 1995 and before he was Sgt at Arms in 1997 and 1998. Randy found the bell in the room at the Sheraton and took it to his apartment
4. As you know Randy gave up his apartment when he married Lynn in July 1998. She told him to "get rid of that stuff before we get married" meaning not only the bell but the other Rotary paraphernalia (and other items a bachelor would accumulate which wives cannot stand), so he brought it back to the Sheraton
5. When he brought it back Paul Downey was completing his term as president and my recollection was, he did not want it. Louise Googins succeeded Paul and my recollection was she was afraid she would forget it. Anyway, it languished in the closet at the Sheraton for several years.
The Sheraton decided to discontinue the Club's use of the closet in approximately 2001 and was about to discard the bell when George Croal learned of their plans. He took the bell to his home and kept it there until someone recently inquired what happened to it.
7. It was presented to Rob Gooze at the Changing of the Guard party on June 24, 2005.