Rotary Information Program - Sept. 20, 2005
Al Schafer

Eldora Rotary Club information is the name of my game today. Listen carefully, a quiz may follow.

As Scott Bierle and the Eldora Newspapers reported earlier this yea our Eldora Rotary Club in 2005 is celebrating its 85~ anniversary. having been founded with 20 charter members in 1920, only 15 years Rotary International was founded in Chicago.

Through this proud history, our chubs most unique sponsorship has been the Hardin County, 75-Year Club, founded in 193&

As Secretary Brud noted in his annual report, this past year the club contributed $3,400 towards community projects. In 1987 the club’s largest single donation was a pledge of $5,684 towards Rotary International worldwide polio plus immunization effort.

Our club boasts 21 Paul Harris Fellows, including 12 present members who have contributed a minimum of $1,000 towards the Rotary Foundation Our first Paul Harris Fellow was the late Bob Brown in 1980.

In June, 1988, our club admitted its first woman member, a number that has now grown to seven.

Through its history, Eldora Rotary has had only one member serve in the. District Governor position - the late longtime School Superintendent Paul Simons in 1972-1973.

Brud Wolcott holds the longest tenure in club history as secretary, now serving his 21st year. And, Dean Stickrod has given us 28 years as pianist.

Only a limited number of clubs in Rotary International can boast a 6o year member. The late Backer Crosley gained that distinction for our club in 2002. Present member Lew Throssel ranks second in Eldora Rotary service at 48 years and Al Schafer and Bob Anderson are close behind at 44 and 42 years,

Our club’s all-time high in membership was 69 in 1976, which at that time ranked number 1 on the basis of population in our district. Membership continued in the 6Os through 1982.

Our present 41 members show a combined 723 years of Rotary service. We have three members over 40 years, nine with over 30 years, four with over 20 years, eight with 10 years or more, and 16 with less than 10 years, including nine with less than two years. That latter shows a continued commitment to membership development.

Our club shows a good cross section of ages, the youngest 26 years old and the eldest at 82. Our roster shows one member in his 20’s, four in their 30’s, eight in their 40s, 13 in their 50’s, six in their 60s, eight in their 70’s and one in his 80’s.

Eldora Rotary through the years has had 86 members serve in the position of president, including 23 present members. This year, for the first time in history our president Dave Dunn is the third member of his family to serve, in that position, following his late father Wm. in 1979-1980 and brother Rick in 1998-1999.

In closing, it’s obvious that a brief three-minute report falls far short of recapping comprehensive highlights of our club’s 85-year history. Be that as it may, to each of you, congratulations on the roles you are playing in our second 85 years of service