Rotary celebrates 75th

Gallatin Rotary Club celebrated its 75th anniversary with a commemorative ceremony Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at the Gallatin Community Building.

After an invocation by Assistant District Governor Richard Parker, William Nofsinger, Governor of Rotary District 6040, presented the 75th anniversary plaque to Gallatin Rotary President Roger Eichler.

Long-time Rotary members Robert Paul and Joe Snyder then gave a general history of the Gallatin Rotary Club.

Mr. Paul pointed out that Gallatin Rotary Club was the first service club established in our area.

On April 20, 1924, 17 businessmen and professionals from Gallatin and neighboring towns held their first organizational meeting at the Woodruff Hotel. Chillicothe Rotary was their sponsor. Charter #1762 was presented to the club on June 10, 1924, by Marvin Goodwin, Rotary District Governor, at a meeting at the Methodist Church attended by over 200 Rotarians from Gallatin and the surrounding area clubs. The charter was accepted by Charles Brandom.

Mr. Paul directed the members’ attention to the PolioPlus program as an example of the ambitious humanitarian goals Rotary International is capable of undertaking. Rotary’s volunteer efforts were instrumental in the eradication of polio from the Western Hemisphere, certified polio-free in 1994.

In 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus, a 20-year commitment to eradicate polio. That same year, Rotary set a goal to raise $120 million to provide oral polio vaccine to newborns in the developing world. When the campaign ended, Rotary had doubled its goal, collecting more than $247 million. To date, the PolioPlus program has contributed $334 million to the protection of more than one billion children. By 2005, Rotary’s financial commitment will reach nearly $500 million.

Rotary volunteers also assist in vaccine delivery, social mobilization and logistical help in cooperation with the national health ministries, WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Polio is still a deadly disease in many parts of the world; however, Rotary looks to celebrate the global eradication of polio in the year 2005- its centennial.

In conclusion, Mr. Paul stated that members should not be afraid of change but rather see change as an opportunity. Rotarians must look ahead and make those changes that fit the present circumstances while mindful of history as a guide, a pattern, an experience upon which to learn.

There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of more than 29,000 Rotary clubs in 161 countries.

On Feb. 23, 1905, a Chicago lawyer, Paul P. Harris, called three friends to a meeting. What he had in mind was a club that would kindle fellowship among members of the business community. It was an idea that grew from his desire to find within the large city the kind of friendly spirit that he knew in the villages where he had grown up.

As they continued to meet, adding others to the group, they rotated their meetings among the members’ places of business, hence the name. Soon after, a wagon wheel design was suggested as the club emblem. It was the precursor of the familiar cogwheel emblem now worn by Rotarians around the world.

Paul Harris believed in the human element, stated Joe Snyder, and Rotary, whose motto is “Service Above Self” has always focused on the individual to provide leadership, motivation and action in the local community and around the world.

Joe pointed out the Gallatin Rotary Club’s long history of successful community projects. The club has been instrumental in the attainment of the Daviess County Country Club and pool; sponsored and brought the establishment of Lake Viking; has aided financially with the Gallatin R-5 football field and lighting for the baseball field; provided a tractor/mower for Dockery Park, trash receptacles around the town square, flags around the square, and floodlights for the county courthouse. In addition, Gallatin Rotary has provided numerous scholarships to worthy high school students and has excelled in donations of monies to Rotary International which carries on hundreds of universal projects.

Mr. Snyder stated that as a worldwide service organization Rotary has no equal. He attributed the spirit of early members like Charles D. Brandom and Roy P. McWilliams as responsible for Gallatin Rotary Club’s rich tradition and successful history. Mr. Brandom never missed a Rotary meeting and had a perfect attendance record for over a half century. Mr. McWilliams was so dedicated to the club that a meeting was once held at his room in a hospital.

Mr. Snyder stated that present members should consider Rotary meetings not as a burden but as an opportunity. The biggest danger to the future of Rotary is not that members will aim too high and miss it, but that they will aim too low and reach it.

Guest speaker Richard Burnett, past Rotary International Director, told the Rotarians that if Rotary is to continue to be an effective force in the community, it must continue to reinvent itself. Yesterday’s — even today’s — ideas are not good enough for tomorrow.

Mr. Burnett spoke to members about one of Rotary’s most recent and visionary projects. In June of this year, Rotary International announced that it will establish international studies centers where scholars can learn diplomacy and skills to resolve conflict and promote international understanding.

There will be seven Rotary Centers for International Studies located at prestigious universities around the world. The first 70 scholars, 10 students at each center, will be selected to participate in two-year graduate programs related to peace and conflict resolution beginning in the 2002 academic year.

Entertainment at the 75th anniversary was provided by Julie Hefley and Jamey Stone.

Among the guests present were friends from the Bethany Rotary Club. In 1936, Gallatin helped get the Bethany club started. Long-time members Bob Paul, 53 years; Joe Snyder, 42 years; and Don Rains, 35 years, were recognized as were the Rotary’s newest members, Darian and Susan Rutherford.