Albion Rotary Club

Number 2913

Albion, Michigan

"Service Above Self"

"He Profits Most Who Serves Best"

A Brief History of the Organization of the Albion Rotary Club

The person most responsible for the organization of the Albion Rotary Club was Dr. Ara D. Sharp. During the summer of 1927, Dr. Sharp wrote to James A. Parkinson, Jr., of the Jackson Rotary Club asking him for information concerning the proper way to start a Rotary Club in Albion. This information was passed on to Dr. Horace Wray Porter, who had previously talked with Dr. Sharp about organizing a Rotary Club in Albion.

The first regular meeting of the organizational committee was held in the office of Dr. A. D. Sharp at 8:00 p.m. on November 29, 1927. Those present were Dr. Horace Porter, secretary of the Jackson Rotary Club; Dr. Ara D. Sharp, Physician; Mr. George Schumacher, Albion Malleable Iron; Mr. Elmer Stoddard, Druggist; Mr. John J. Fisher, undertaker; Mr. Fred Blanchard, post office; Mr. Verl L, Koon , hardware; and Mr. Donald J. Gilbert, Consumers Power Company. Mr. George Schumacher was elected chairman of the organizational committee, and Donald J. Gilbert was elected to serve as secretary.

A much larger group of men met at the Parker Inn on February 22, 1928, for the purpose of forming a permanent organization so that an application might be submitted to the Rotary International organization requesting a Rotary Club charter for the Albion group. This group selected the following officers: President - C. Bernard Woodruff, Vice-President - George A. Schumacher, Secretary and Treasurer - Richard T. Baldwin. Percy E. Ganson, Walter C. Peak and Norman H. Wiener were elected to serve as members of the Board of Directors. On February 23, 1928, the list of charter members of the Rotary Club of Albion, Michigan, was mailed to the secretary of Rotary International in Chicago. This list was made up of the following: Harold Mathew Baker, Poultry Raising; Richard Taylor Baldwin, Newspaper Publishing; George Albert Bohm, Motion Picture Theatre; William Bradford Buck, Alumni Associations; Leonard M. Cole, Automobile Wheel Manufacturing; John Jacob Fisher, Funeral Directing; Percy Edmond Ganson, Electric Light & Power Service; Bruce L. Guyselman, Plumbing; Clair Dee Henry, Automobile Retailing; Verl Leroy Koon, Hardware Retailing; Frank William Koth, Gas Service; Dr. Wilbert Lewell Neil, Exodontia; Harry B. Parker, Iron Casting Manufacturing; Walter Martin Peabody, Telephone Service; Walter Clude Peak, Caster and Truck Manufacturing; Reinhold Emil Schumacher, Savings and Loan Association; Albert Fredrick Schumacher, Building Construction; Dr. Ara D. Sharp, Surgery; Elmer A. Stoddard, Drugs Retailing; Edward Bernard Sweeney, Hotels; Norman Henry Wiener, Iron and Steel Scrap, Robert Albert Wochholz, Security Brokerage; Charles Bernard Woodruff, Men’s Clothing Retailing; Robert Williams, Educating - Universities, and George A. Schumacher, Albion Malleable Iron.

On March 15, 1928, the Albion group decided to hold weekly unofficial club meetings every Thursday at 12:15 p.m. at the Parker Inn. The meeting on March 22, 1928, was the last one that the group held as an unofficial Rotary group, as the group was notified at the March 29, 1928, meeting that a charter had been granted Albion as Rotary Club No. 2799.

Albion Rotary Club Charter Night

The official presentation of the Charter of the Albion Rotary Club was made on April 12, 1928. Three hundred twenty-six men were present to witness the ceremonies that formally recognized the establishment of the Albion Rotary Club. The meeting was held at the Parker Inn. Twenty-five Rotary Clubs were represented, ranging from Jackson’s large delegation of sixty-five to Northville’s lone representative.

Dr. Harry Parks, past president of the Jackson Club, presided as toastmaster. He introduced five past district governors: Hugh VandeWalker of Ypsilanti, Paul H. King of Detroit, Ray W. Davis of St. Joseph, Fred Sheriff of Battle Creek, and Fred Gage of Battle Creek.

The address of the evening was presented by Frank L. Mulholland, a past-president of Rotary International, of Toledo, Ohio. Mr. Mulholland stressed the value of Rotary as a means of disseminating international goodwill, understanding and cooperation. The speaker stated that Rotary had accomplished two things: it had created more orators than any other organization and it had been a most potent organization in getting businessmen to thinking.

He advised the members of the club to avoid making a religion of Rotary or considering it as a fraternal organization. Rotary, in its international aspect, should be considered as a league of men and not as a league of nations. Its object should be to let the men of one nation know that the men of other nations are not odd, unapproachable creatures, but ordinary men like themselves.

Past Presidents of Albion Rotary Club

The presidents of a Rotary Club have the responsibility of keeping the club operating through many trying times. This, of course, has been true of the presidents of the Albion Club. The names of the past presidents are listed below by ten-year groups.

Those included in the first ten year span were: C. Bernard Woodruff, 1928; George A. Schumacher, 1929; C. Reginald Smith, 1930; Ara Sharp, 1931; William Harton, 1932; Paul Ewbank, 1933; Richard Baldwin, 1934; Jack Bedient, 1935; King G. Cornell, 1936; Don Harrington, 1937.

The report of Dr. Sharp, who was president for the Rotary year 1931-1932, gives a good idea of some of the problems that confronted the Rotary Club in its early days. Dr. Sharp’s report not only tells of the work of the club and some of its problems, but it is also full of human-interest items:

"I took office July 1931, and I must state we had a very good year. Had the pleasure of taking many good men into the Club including our good friend Gordon Smith who was initiated into our organization February 25, 1932.

"The club was fortunate and proud in having an excellent man like William Harton to attend Rotary International in Seattle. While the Club assisted financially a little, the bulk of the expense was carried by Bill. He left here June 12, 1932.

"Paul Ewbank, being Chairman of the Program Committee, provided excellent material for the year. Every man accepted his responsibility as a true Rotarian. Club members promoted a spirit of cooperation, friendship and goodwill. Went through a trying time following the close of the Albion State Bank. At this time the cooperation of the fellows was unexcelled. Also about this time we had the re-adjustment of our budget, which was probably the outstanding thing that was done. In July 1932, we had an active membership of 51 men, and by July 1932, we had a total of 43 active members, which was considered excellent for those unsettled times.

"Average attendance was 78.4%. It was a testing time for Rotary.

"We learned through our work in our local Club to cooperate in the interest and welfare of the entire community.

"We had as our 35th District Governor, Eric Tasman of Lansing, Michigan, and I don’t know how he could be excelled. He visited this Club on October 22, 1931.

"We financially assisted visiting nurse. Paid for flowers to our sick members and their families. Assisted toward Boy’s work, and assisted several boys through college through our Student Loan Fund. As to our Crippled Children, we cared for 35 children.

"Another real big event for the year was that Jack Bedient got him a son, 1931, and that was something.

"All credit and our success was due to active participation and enthusiasm of the entire Club, and not me."

Another indication of the club’s early interest in community affairs is a letter from the club’s safety committee. It urged that stoplights be installed in the city to protect children going and coming home from school. This committee was made up of W. C. Peak, E. A. Stoddard and W. L. Neil.

Paul Ewbank, President 1933-1934 wrote: "Forty-five years is a long time to remember details, but old timers will remember that 1933 was a depression year. Past president Bill Harton had to resign from the club at the end of his term because he was not being paid. Everyone came with a long face, so Jack Bedient, program chairman, and Fr. Gordon Smith, song leader (‘Our motto is quantity not quality’), decided that our project would be to get the members to smile before they left and as they left. I think we were reasonably successful most days. Gordon’s favorite song: ‘Oh The Horse Stood Around With Its Foot On The Ground.’ Repeated over and over."

Presidents during the years 1938-1947 were: Donald Gilbert, 1938; Russell Vaughn, 1939; D. R. McAuliffe, 1940; Dewey Bitney, 1941; Frank Koth, 1942; Emil Leffler, 1943; Everett Cavanagh, 1944; Chandler C. Taylor, 1945; George Walkotten, 1946; C. Thatcher Hatch, 1947.

Dewey Bitney, 1941-1942 reported, "We started a new program chairman for each month. Formerly a committee of three men ran all programs."

Emil Leffler 1943-1944 related, "The year I served as president was a war year and much of our activity was conditioned by that fact. I do remember that the club took an active part in the 100th anniversary of the coming of the railroad to Albion.

"That same year I had the privilege of serving Rotary International as a speaker. For two weeks I was in Western Pennsylvania speaking five days each week. I spoke three times each day, first before the local high school assembly, then at the Rotary meeting and in the evening at a public meeting sponsored by the local club."

At the time of Paul Harris’s death in 1947, C. Thatcher Hatch was president. Rotary International decided a fitting memorial for the founder of Rotary would be for all the clubs throughout the world to become 100% Rotary Foundation Fellowship clubs. To qualify for this each club would contribute an average of $10 per member to the fund. This, of course, was highly idealistic. President Hatch, however, encouraged the club members to cooperate, and this was accomplished for the Albion club. In 1946 the club membership was 85.

Presidents during the years 1948-1957 were: Theodore VanDellen, 1948; W. Clark Dean, 1949; Wibert L. Neil, 1950; Clifford B. Taylor, 1951; Hershel C. Fox, 1952; Dale Sprankle, 1953; J. Clifford Smith, 1954; Carl Steinhauer, 1955; Robert Geyer, 1956; Harry Williams, 1957.

C. Reginald Smith was elected as a Director of Rotary International 1948-1949; Chairman of Rotary International nomination committee, 1950; and Rotary International Convention Committee President, 1951. Wilbert L. Neil, 1950, had completed 16 years as secretary; Bob Kelsey succeeded him. Litchfield Rotary Club was installed - sponsored by Albion. Harold Thomas of Ackland, N.Z., Chairman of Rotary International Committee on International Affairs spoke to the club September 29, 1948.

John Gilbert, sponsored by Albion, left for a year’s study at the University of Grenoble, France, as a Rotary International Fellow. Harry Williams carried on a post card attendance campaign. He also planned to have guests seated with Rotarians of like vocations. For youth:

1. A Christmas party for underprivileged children.

2. A Rotary meeting conducted by students.

3. Rotarians aided in community center work during after school hours and on Saturdays.

Robert Geyer was the youngest president in Albion’s history. Albion voted to endorse C. Reginald Smith for nomination of President of Rotary for 1957-58.

Each year the district governor visits the club. Until the mid 1960s, the governor would bring his wife. She would be entertained by the wives of club members and taken sight seeing in the afternoon. The governor would speak to the club at its noon meeting and spend the afternoon visiting the businesses and manufacturing plants of the members. In the evening he would hold a club assembly at dinner and go over each report of the committee chairmen.

Presidents during the years 1958-1967 were: Harrley Transue, 1958; Fred Houseman, 1959; Minard Farley, 1960; George Ryser, 1961; J. Leslie Engstrom, 1962; Robert Kelsey, 1963; Richard Chauncey, 1964; John Tennant, 1965; Minard Farley 1965 (to finish Tennant’s term of office); George Matthews, 1966; David Turnbull, 1967.

Les Engstrom reported hosting Governor Karns at his home followed by the assembly at night. Albion hosted the 23rd Albion-Marshall Football Bust. Made contributions for furniture for the children’s room at the library, glasses for needy children, student scholarships, the hospital drive, the high school football banquet, and sent two boys to Wolverine Boys State. The club received a certificate as a supporter of the Rotary Foundation and held the eighteenth Albion Rotary Basketball Carnival. The club provided financial aid to the Campfire girls for a camping trip and also bore the entire cost of a lodge for them. Youth activities were aided by the selling of brooms made by the Institute for the Blind. Chairman Bob Geyer secured a plaque of the four-way test, which is still in use and lists the name of the boy and girl who most nearly supports its principles each year. By June 30, 1964, the club reached a peak membership of 102.

Presidents during the years 1968-1977 were: Ordell McElhaney, 1968; Jack Ryser, 1969; Harry Gardner, 1970; William H. Helrigel, Jr., 1971; Charles E. Williams, 1972; Donald Tallman, 1973, Gordon Pulling, 1974; Basil Cole, 1974 (to complete unexpired term of Gordon Pulling); Charles Held, 1975; Neal Godby, 1976; Jack Hill, 1977.

During 1971-1974 the club held annual auction sales to secure funds for youth service and community service projects. These sales resulted in a sizeable amount of revenue. In 1972 the club furnished labor and materials for the Midway Airport building.

When Chuck Held was president a large gift was made to the public library as a memorial for Gordon Pulling. A portrait of Gordon was also presented to the library. The Club also successfully sponsored Valerie Vogel as a Rotary Foundation Fellow for study in Germany.

Presidents during the years 1978-1987 were: Robert Tuck, 1978; Donald Ryan, 1979; Gregory Pulling, 1980; Otis Myers, 1981; James Burtch, 1982; Richard Munger, 1983; Mike Bitar, 1984; John Williams,1985; Geary Bird, 1986; Dan Siler, 1987.

Under the leadership of Mike Bitar, John Williams and membership chairman Otis Myers the club had its most successful membership drive with 20 new members. Their slogan was "two for five in 1985." Teams of five current members were each to bring in two new members. A popular Rotary program is the International Youth Exchange that annually enables 10,000 secondary school students to spend a few weeks to a year in another country. During this period, with Jack Hill as chair of the Youth Exchange committee, the Albion Club was known throughout the district for outstanding participation in this program. David Farley’s family has hosted several youth exchange students. Our first white fish dinner was held in 1987. This event now serves as the club’s primary fund raising project, replacing the Las Vegas Night. The club has supported the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program by sending two young men each year. Attendees meet with Rotarians and other resource people for a week to explore and discuss topics of importance to youth.

Presidents during the years 1988-1999 were: Michael Hill, 1988; David Farley, 1989; Al Meloy, 1990; Merritt Yackey, 1991; Kenneth Ponds, 1992; Mike Turner, 1993; Sue Marcos, 1994; Peggy Sindt, 1995; Jerry Christensen, 1996; Richard Meyer, 1997; Marvin Ittner, 1998, and James Seidl, 1999.

In 1988, Rotary International asked all clubs to support the Polio Plus campaign. The goal was to raise $120,000,000 to eradicate polio. Thanks to the generous donations from Albion Rotarians and Rotarians from around the world, over $226,000,000 was pledged. Polio Plus will immunize 240 million children in more than 40 developing countries against polio and three other diseases.

Second generation president Michael Hill continued in his father’s tradition by wagering with the Marshall club president on attendance. The president with the lower attendance had to shave off his mustache. While Mike’s father won, Mike lost. The club continued its participation in the Festival of the Forks and worked on several projects which help save our environment, such as working at the Albion Recycling Center, planting flowers along Michigan Avenue, and participating in numerous cleanup projects around Albion.

In 1992, the club collected typewriters and office equipment to send to Belize. We worked with our district to purchase old school buses, ambulances and fire trucks which were driven to Belize in October 1993. Every year at Christmas time, club members volunteer to ring the Salvation Army bell at Felpaush Food Center and Kmart. In 1998, 1999 and 2000 the Salvation Army had its highest donations the day Rotary worked.

Starting in 1999, the club works one day at the Calhoun County Fair in mid-August selling tickets to earn money for club projects. The Fair pays Rotary $1,000 or 5% of the days ticket sales.

Presidents during the years 2000- 2009. 2000 Cathy Campbell, 2001 Phil Hostetler, 2002 Kristi Maze, 2003 Jeff Bell, 2004 Ralph Cram, 2005 Carol Yeomans-Phelan

As a long term project in 2001, 2002, and 2003 the club agreed to help support the purchase of new playground equipment in Victory Park. The club raised monies for the purchase of equipment and donated part of the weekly 50/50 drawing proceeds.

In 2000, the club supported improvement to Bournelis Park. The park landscape was updated and club members have assumed in future years responsibility for the maintaining the park during the summer. A website was established in 2001 http://www.woodlands.lib.mi.us/rotary/. The club was awarded the District 6360 Turning Gear Award in 2002. In 2003, the club pledged $9,000 to Rotary’s Polio Plus program. Jeff Bell and Peggy Hoaglin became Paul Harris Fellows in support of the program.

Reginald Smith

C. Reginald Smith, who joined the club soon after its formation and was our third president, later became a prominent figure in Rotary International. He served as a district governor for much of Michigan in 1940-41, as a director of Rotary International in 1948-49, and as chairman of Rotary International’s nominating committee in July 1950. He also served as a member of the general arrangement committee for the 1951 convention held in Atlantic City. Mr. Smith was treasurer of Union Steel Products Co., a member of the Albion Board of Education, and a former trustee of the Calhoun County Public Hospital. The Albion Club voted to endorse Reginald for President of Rotary International for 1957-58. All of the clubs in the district supported his nomination, but Reginald lost the election.

Sparkplug Award

The Sparkplug Pin award was started in 1985, when District Governor Tom Sullivan presented Dave Farley with a special Rotary pin. Rotary’s theme that year was "You are the Key." Dave, who was club secretary, was considered by the Board as our "Key Member." Since that time the pin has been passed on a regular basis to the club’s "key" Rotarian.

Bob Farley Attendance Award

The Bob Farley Attendance Award was started in 2003 by David Farley in memory of his dad. Bob Farley had 52 years of perfect attendance and was recognized by District 6360 and Rotary International for his attendance. The award is presented to a club member for his/her attendance at meeting and club projects.

Rotary Projects

With Dr. Sharp’s influence, the first community activity of the Rotary Club was aiding crippled children and adults. Rotarians frequently drove children to Ann Arbor for polio rehabilitation. For many years the club arranged each summer for one or more youths to attend Wolverine Boys’ State and a Rotary Leadership Camp at Camp Emory near Muskegon. The club played an important part in having a stoplight installed, which helped children on their way to school. The Exchange and Rotary clubs built the skating shelter at Reiger pond. In 1972, the club played an important part in construction of the headquarters building at the Albion-Homer Midway Airport. Rotary members have served the community in public office and held key roles in the development of the community’s medical personnel recruitment committees and the Greater Albion Scholarship Fund. During 1970-1980 the club supported the Boy Scouts. Since 1979 the club has participated in the Festival of the Forks by providing financial support and taking part in the parade. In recent years the club has supported the Odyssey of the Mind program, Battle Creek Boys Choir, SAFE Place, Silent Observer, Citizens to Beautify Albion, Mother’s Day Jubilee, Salvation Army, Youth Football, and the Literacy Council of Calhoun County. In recent years the club has been called upon to support numerous local projects and activities. In response, the club has donated monies and time to numerous local and worldwide projects.

The club has been a strong financial supporter of Rotary International Overseas Fellowship Fund for over 25 years. In 1955-56, John E. Gilbert of Albion studied at the University of Grenoble. For two years thereafter he was a member of Rotary International’s staff at its headquarters. Numerous students, ages 15-19, from foreign countries have spent a few weeks to a year living and attending school in Albion. Albion has helped to host Group Study Exchange teams comprised of four to six non-Rotarians who explore the life and culture of another country.

The club supports two projects for high school students. Each year a graduating senior at the Albion Public High School is recognized by Rotary’s Four Way Test Award. Since 1987, two juniors are sent to District 6360’s Life Leaderships Conference. The Life Leadership Conference works to promote leadership skills. The Club supports one or two high school junior to attend Boys State an American Legion program that promotes a better understanding of State and local government.

Current service projects include participating in the annual flower planting along Business I-94 organized by the Citizens to Beautify Albion and setting out luninaria to outline the forks of the Kalamazoo River during the annual Festival of the Forks.

Fundraising Projects

On March 21, 1941, the club sponsored Albion’s first professional basketball game at Kresge Gymnasium. The Harlem Globe Trotters played the Automobile Club of Michigan All-Stars. Proceeds went to the club’s crippled children’s fund. About 1,200 people attended. From 1941 through the 1960s the club annually sponsored a basketball doubleheader carnival at Kresge Gym, Albion College. Other fundraisers included invitational basketball games and track meets at the college, door-to-door sales of brooms made by the blind (Bob Kelsey was especially active in this area), white elephant sales at the Armory, belt and candy sales, and pancake suppers. During the 1970s the main fundraising activity was pancake suppers, and in the early 1980s it was a Las Vegas night. Since the 1980s the club has had a soft drink booth at the annual Festival of the Forks.

Starting in June of 1987 a fish fry has been our major fundraising project. All members of the club participate in selling tickets and working. Each member is expected to bring two homemade desserts. Monies from our fundraising projects are used to support local programs and activities.

A white elephant auction was started in 1998 to raise money for Rotary projects. Each member donates two items and an auction is held in mid-December. Club members support the auction by bidding on the items. The auction raises over $500 each year.

In 1999, the club starting works one day at the Calhoun County Fair in mid-August selling tickets to earn money for club projects. The Fair pays Rotary $1,000 or 5% of the days ticket sales.

In 2003, the club partnering with local organizations started having semiannual Pancake Suppers to raise money for Polio Eradication and local projects.

Rotary Club of Albion Foundation

In 2000, the Club formed a Foundation within the Albion Community Foundation. An anonymous gift of $40,000 was received shortly after the Foundation was formed. By 2004, the fund had assets of over $100,000. The Foundation supports local projects and Rotary International. Each year the Foundation’s directors ask the community to submit funding requests. In 2003 the first distribution was made by the foundation. It went to Johnson Child Care & Development Center for its capital campaign and a Paul Harris Fellowship for Liz Fraser.

George Mather Late Arrival Award

The George Mather late arrival award (one dollar fine) is given to the Rotarian who arrives last at the meeting. The award was named in honor of George Mather, editor of the Albion Evening Recorder, who had to put the paper to bed at noon and consequently was usually so late he did not get to eat.

Perfect Attendance

Bob Farley 52 years

Dave Farley 15 years

John Sharp 12 years

Jack Hill 25 years

Mike Hill 10 years

Dick Bethune 10 years

Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation was started in 1928 to provide humanitarian assistance, enhance education and promote international understanding and peace. The Foundation grew modestly until 1947 when it received a significant number of gifts in memory of Paul Harris. A Rotarian or non-Rotarian who donates $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation or has a $1,000 donated in his/her name becomes a Paul Harris Fellow. Bob Kelsey was Albion’s first Paul Harris Fellow. The Foundation’s largest activity is its scholarship program, which sends about 1,400 scholars abroad annually. As of 2003, the club’s Paul Harris Fellows were: