Club History

The Rotary Club of Corning, NY, was chartered in 1921, sponsored by the Elmira Rotary Club. Frederick Carder, English immigrant and glass artist was the founding president. Carder also founded famed Steuben Glass. The potential Rotary held for promoting world peace interested Carder at a time when he was grieving the loss of his son in World War I. 

 

Meeting weekly at the Baron Steuben Hotel, Rotary’s initial success was the gradual growth of acquaintance among Corning businessmen through weekly meetings and community betterment projects. Carder credited Rotary with breaking down the attitude of secrecy and independence among businessmen that prevailed at the time, changing it to an attitude of cooperation. 

 

Beginning with 25 men who signed the original charter, the club grew to more than 170 members in 80 years. The Baron Steuben Hotel and the Corning Hilton/Radisson have been home to Rotary since 1928. Women were admitted in 1989. Presently there are 130 members. 

 

The Rotary Club of Corning, NY is in Rotary District 7120, which encompasses roughly 90 square miles, across eleven counties, just south of Lake Ontario.  A district governor, serving a one-year term, presides over the district with a volunteer staff providing training and support for volunteer club officers. Throughout Rotary world, every position turns over each year. Corning Rotary District Governors have included Floyd English Sr., Walter Oakley, and Robert Hunt. 

 

Justifying its existence in the community, Rotary provides service. Rotary has supported a diverse array of youth programs:  Sea, Boy and Girl Scouts, a Youth Center and, Camp STAR – a summer camp for handicapped youth.  Rotary sponsored Babe Ruth Baseball for some thirty five years and Cinderella Softball for a few years less.  The club donated measurably to the community by creating institutions including Spencer Crest Nature Center, a loan fund for college students, a chaplain at Corning Hospital and Interact Clubs in high schools. Structures, reception halls, works of art, lectures, theatrical productions all bear Rotary’s sponsoring logo. 

 

International service began in 1964 with the hosting and sponsoring of exchange students. More recently, Rotary families host foreign district governor couples during winter season as well as international vocational study teams. An annual International Evening is the major fundraiser for outreach projects sponsored by partner Rotary clubs throughout the world. Since 1985 the club has contributed in excess of $40,000 toward Polio Plus, a Rotary International initiative to eliminate polio in the world. It is the largest and most successful private undertaking by a non-governmental agency ever. 

 

Funding for Rotary includes the collection of dues, fun-oriented recognition fines and a weekly raffle. Supplementing this over the years have been flea markets, variety shows, humidifier rentals, poinsettia sales, ski shows, art auctions, instant wine cellars, and food concessions at LPGA and Watkins Glen races. The Sustaining Fund was begun in 2002 with member donations; the proceeds were first used in 2007 to build the handicap accessible Rockwell Pavilion at Spencer Crest Nature Center. 

 

Since 1921, the club has met each Thursday for lunch, fellowship, communication, recognition and education, all designed to promote the Rotary Motto –  “Service Above Self”