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ROTARY CLUB OF LETHBRIDGE

 

SERVICE ABOVE SELF THROUGH THE DECADES

 

The Rotary Club of Lethbridge was chartered in June 1918, and Rotary contributions to the community from Charter date up to and including 1920.

 

Our Club canvassed for Salvation Army Funds; presented a Christmas party for children of soldiers; Santa’s visit to 500 children; contributed to the Soldiers’ War Memorial and the Great War Vets Building Fund, as well as the Nursing mission. In 1919 the club answered a call from Mayor Hardie to find books for the soon-to-be-opened public library, and in a book drive found 3,000 volumes.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

            1918                J B Wilke                                 1919 – 1920:   Fred Spooner

            1918 - 1919:    A G Baalim

In the 1920’s:

 

Our Club donated funds for playground equipment; sent 100 boys to camp; donated to first “covered ice rink”; presented a Minstrel Show for fun and fundraising; joined with Gyro to take over management of the YMCA for two years; developed Henderson Lake bathing beach and playground; and operated the “Midway at the Fair” and began a tradition of tree planting continued intermittently to the 1990’s.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

           

            1920 – 1921:   S G Porter                               1925 – 1926:   John Dow

            1921 – 1922:   H G Clarke                               1926 – 1927:   G N Houston

            1922 – 1923:   H W Crawford                         1927 – 1928:   T C Ridpath

            1923 – 1924:   W P Craig                                1928 – 1929:   R Barrowman

            1924 – 1925:   R R Davidson                           1929 – 1930:   N S Stolze

 

In the 1930’s:

 

Our Club took over running the ice arena for three years; organized our first Hobby Fair; put manpower into running the Lethbridge Exhibition Grandstand; purchased an ambulance for Red Cross; Minstrel and music shows continued; Christmas benefits for children; clothing drives for the mission; bought and delivered 700 food hampers for the mission; and in a large international project co-operated with Cardston and Calgary and Montana clubs to deliver the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, whose annual goodwill international gatherings continue to this day.

 

 

 

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

            1930 – 1931:   C R Daniel                                1935 – 1936:   E A Wilson

            1931 – 1932:   R J H Paterson                         1936 – 1937:   W H Fairfield

            1932 – 1933:   H W Meech                              1937 – 1938:   Chris Hansen

            1933 – 1934:   E E Eisenhaur                           1938 – 1939:   Tomm Mitten

            1934 – 1935:   George Lomas                          1939 – 1940:   Max Hoffman

 

In the 1940’s:

 

Our Club ran a Red Cross funding drive; conducted repairs to Camp Inupsi, and sent 50 children to camp; financed a soldiers’ canteen; hosted allied air and gunnery trainees with dinners and dances; clothing drives; and a War Bonds campaign; Victory Loans; began the Rotary Christmas Carol Festival; son and daughter banquets; apple days and Red Cross Blood Donor Clinics.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

            1940 – 1941:   R Y Paton                                1945 – 1946:   Art Haig

            1941 – 1942:   G C Paterson                           1946 – 1947:   H A Mutchmor

            1942 – 1943:   Russel Haig                              1947 – 1948:   J H Walker

            1943 – 1944:   George Cox                             1948 – 1949:   C A Bryant

            1944 – 1945:   Matt Wilkenson                        1949 – 1950:   J M Wilton

 

 

 

                                                            In the 1950’s:

 

Our Club sponsored track and field meets; conducted Rotary baseball tournaments, as well as curling bonspiels; planted trees on North Parkside Dr and on 16^th St; organized musical variety shows; sponsored Canadian Players Shakespeare Company visits; assisted the Rehabilitation Society; and developed historical cairn in Galt Gardens with R.C.E.M.E.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

            1950 – 1951:   Bill Davidson                             1955 – 1956:   H J Hargrave

            1951 – 1952:   F Calder                                    1956 – 1957:   D G W Sutherland

            1952 – 1953:   G A Gillis                                    1957 – 1958:   Andy Anderson

            1953 – 1954:   G O Gowlland                            1958 – 1959:   John Black

            1954 – 1955:   R C Tenant                               1959 – 1960:   Eddie Cairns

           

 

 

In the 1960’s:

 

Our Club organized “Something For Young Minds” – youth visits and exchanges; Spring Choral Festival “Maytime”; Mardi Gras dances for fun and fundraising; washrooms and baths at Camp Inupsi; Rotary Male Chorus; public barbecue at Exhibition Grounds; public speaking “Spokes” Club.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

                                                                                    RI THEME:

 

1960 – 1961:   D M Davies                              You Are Rotary! Live It! Express It!

                                                                        Expand It!

1961 – 1962:   Hugh Arnold                             Act; Aim for Action; Communicate for

                                                                        Understanding; Test for Leadership

1962 – 1963:   Alan Cullen                               Kindle the Spark Within

1963 – 1964:   R M Gemmel                            Meeting Rotary’s Challenge in the Space

                                                                        Age

1964 – 1965:   Jim Pickard                              Live Rotary

1965 – 1966:   Bud Millar                                  Action, Consolidation, and Continuity

1966 – 1967:   J Thackray                               A Better World Through Rotary

1967 – 1968:   Thad Ives                                 Make Your Rotary Membership Effective

1968 – 1969:   Cy Redfern                               Participate !

1969 – 1970:   Larry Jacobson                         Review and Renew

 

                                                            In the 1970’s:

 

Our Club participated in a Summer Youth Exchange; steak fry; Lethbridge Youth Forum; co-sponsored Rotary Club Horse Show; Rotary Park in West Lethbridge; Salvation Army Kettles; student scholarships began; chicken barbecue began.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

                                                RI THEME:

 

1970 – 1971:   Colin Darcel                             Bridge the Gaps

1971 – 1972:   Dick Williams                           Spread Goodwill to Every Region of the

                                                                        World

1972 – 1973:   John Gogo                               Take a New Look       

1973 – 1974:   Rae Pepper                              A Time for Action        

1974 – 1975:   Don Higgins                             Renew the Spirit of Rotary       

1975 – 1976:   Bob Shackleford                       Dignify the Human Being

1976 – 1977:   Bob Willis                                  I Believe in Rotary

1977 – 1978:   Ron Butcher                             Serve to Unite Mankind

1978 – 1979:   Ken Rooke                                Reach Out

1979 – 1980:   Dale Merchant                           Let Service Light the Way

 

                                                            In the 1980’s:

 

Our Club assisted Alberta’s 75^th anniversary projects by providing funds for projects; Public Library “Books on the Move” van purchased with Rotary volunteers driving; New Year’s Eve frolics; scholarships continue; Polio Plus introduced in the Rotary Global World; fashion show; year-long student exchanges begin; Career fair; Meals on Wheels donations; Food Bank donations; Childrens’ Garden Project; Lethbridge Regional Hospital Trauma unit donation; Lethbridge Community College expansion support; introduced and funded Lethbridge Lifeline Program.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

                                                            RI THEME:

 

1980 – 1981:   Bob Giesbrecht                        Take Time to Serve

1981 – 1982:   Dick Turner                              World Understanding and Peace Through

                                                                        Rotary

1982 – 1983:   David Irving                              Mankind Is One – Build Bridges of

                                                                        Friendship Throughout the World

1983 – 1984:   Brian Wielenga                         Share Rotary – Serve People

1984 – 1985:   Les Talbot                                Discover a New World of Service

1985 – 1986:   Deane Little                              You Are the Key

1986 – 1987:   Frank Vegesi                             Rotary Brings Hope

1987 – 1988:   Malcolm Hughes                       Rotarians – United in Service – Dedicated to

                                                                        Peace

1988 – 1989:   Ed Reierson                              Put Life into Rotary – Your Life

1989 – 1990:   Peter Green                              Enjoy Rotary!

 

                                                            In the 1990’s:

 

Our Club provided support for Habitat for Humanity; Boys and Girls Club; Lethbridge Regional Hospital MRI donations; tree planting continues; UNESCO donations continue; Navy League support; St Michael’s Foundation support; student and youth exchanges continue; scholarships and development programs continue; University of Lethbridge LINC support.

 

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

                                                                                                RI THEME:

 

1990 – 1991:   Jack Reynar                             Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm

1991 – 1992:   John Hoopfer                           Look Beyond Yourself

1992 – 1993:   Gordon Lowe                           Real Happiness Is Helping Others

1993 – 1994:   Phil North                                 Believe in What You Do - Do What You

                                                                        Believe In

1994 – 1995:   Gord Jong                                Be a Friend

1995 – 1996:   Doug McCarthur                      Act with Integrity, Serve with Love, Work

                                                                        for Peace

1996 – 1997:   Helen Henderson                      Build the Future with Action and Vision

1997 – 1998:   Myles Bourke                           Show Rotary Cares

1998 – 1999:   Tim Waters                              Follow Your Rotary Dream!

1999 – 2000:   Murray Anderson                     Act with Consistency, Credibility, and

                                                                        Continuity

 

In the 2000’s:

 

Our Club continues with exchanges and scholarships; provides funding to St Mike’s Palliative Care Unit; partners with The City of Lethbridge in developing Rotary Park in West Lethbridge; Black Tie Bingo as major club fundraiser; Rotary Dragon Boat Festival on Henderson Lake; international projects in Russia, Fiji Islands, West Africa; major revitalization of Galt Gardens; on-going partnership with U of L Rotaract Club; Lobsterfest;

CLUB PRESIDENTS:

 

                                                RI THEME:

 

2000 – 2001:   Mike McGuire                          Create Awareness and Take Action

2001 – 2002:   David Hughes                         Mankind Is Our Business

2002 – 2003:   Frank Vasil                               Sow the Seeds of Love

2003 – 2004:   Bernie Carriere                         Lend a Hand

2004 – 2005:   Darrell Alexander                     Celebrate Rotary

2005 – 2006:   Wayne Stewart                       Service Above Self

2006 – 2007:   Robin Hood                             Lead the Way

2007 – 2008:   Pat Killoran                              Rotary Shares

2008 – 2009:   Dawna Coslovi                         Make Dreams Real

2009 – 2010:   Geri Hecker                              The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands

 

                                                            In the 2010’s:

SO MUCH MORE TO DO

 

2010 – 2011:   Duncan Lloyd                           Building Communities–Bridging Continents

2011 – 2012:   John Hoopfer                           Reach Within to Embrace Humanity

2012 – 2013:   Stephen Graham                      Peace through Service

2013 – 2014:   Patrick Bilyk                              Engage Rotary Change lives

2014 – 2015:  Nick Nicolacoupolis                     Light Up Rotary

2015 – 2016:  Pat Killoran                                Be A Gift to the World

2016 – 2017:  Dennis Chinner

2017 - 2018: Mandy DeCecco Kolebaba

2018-2019: Murray Pritchard

2019-2020: Sherry Davis

2020-2021: Allan Friesen

 

          OUR CLUB’S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

Rotary in Lethbridge is a proud record of fun, fellowship and fundraising, and of people support and development. It’s sharing and caring and making positive differences in our community through the years and in the lives of those around us by a Club who believes in putting SERVICE ABOVE SELF.