Brief histories of the "other 100th clubs" Clubs

Rotary Club of Macon #104

Rotary International District 6920

Rotary began in Georgia in 1913 with the organization of the Atlanta Rotary Club.

In Atlanta, at that time, there was a most active organization known as “The Atlanta Advertising Club.” In the spring of 1913 four representatives from the Atlanta advertising club attended a convention of their association in Baltimore. These four gentlemen (builders of Atlanta) were; Henry W. Grady, Jr., son of  Henry W. Grady, author and editor of the Atlanta Constitution, Evelyn Harris, son of Joel Chandler  Harris – Originator of the beloved Uncle Remus stories, Howard Geldert known for his work with the Boys and Girls Clubs. Ivan Allen, a leader in Fraternal and civic and social circles-and later Mayor of Atlanta. During that convention they met certain Rotarians and became inspired with the principles and objectives of Rotary. They returned home and in 1913 organized the Atlanta Rotary Club thereby bringing Rotary to the state of Georgia.                       

In 1912 Macon was contacted to see if there was enough interest in forming a Rotary Club in Macon. Nothing was done with this until the later part of 1913 when John Hancock became interested in forming the Macon Rotary Club. He called a meeting in a small room at the Dempsey Hotel and invited twenty five prominent Macon leaders to attend that meeting. Committees were appointed, officers were nominated and a Constitution and By Laws were established. Later, in January of 1914, the first meeting of the Macon Rotary Club was held at the Dempsey Hotel with the following Charter Members: W.T. Anderson, Homer Arnett, T.E. Bardwell, W.G. Billings, Edward Burk, Arthur Chapman, Walter Collins, Charles Cone, W.E. Dundody , Howard Erminger, Robert Flournoy, John W. Hancock, Richard Lawton, Albert McKay, John J, MacKay, James H. Porter, W. C. Pumpelly, Marion Ramsey, Malcom Ross, W.G. Reed, W.A. Scott, Eugene Stetson, and Charles Stroberg. 

The first President of the Macon Rotary Club was John W. Hancock. The Macon Club was then officially Chartered on March 1, 1914.

The first officers and directors of the Macon Rotary Club were John W. Hancock (President); W.T. Anderson (Vice President ) W.G. Billings; (Secretary) and J. Freeman Hart (Treasurer). Directors were: E.W. Stetson, W. Arthur Chapman, Marion Ramsey, E.W. Burk, Charles Cone, and John McKay. 

Shortly after the Macon Club was formed, Balfour designed it’s emblem, using a heart in the middle of the wheel since Macon was known as “The Heart of Georgia.” Our Club bulletin, which has been in continuous publication since 1916, also adopted the idea and became “Rotary Heart Throbs"—later shortened to “Throbs.”

In 1914, when the Macon Club was Chartered, there were no districts in Rotary simply because there were not enough clubs to warrant geographical divisions. In 1915 geographic districts were formed and Macon was assigned to District 5 which covered 5 clubs in Georgia, all of Florida and all of Alabama. In 1918/1919 Cuba and Puerto Rico were added to the district and the district was changed from 5 to 8. The district changed again in 1922/1923 at which time the district was known as 39 and covered the states of Georgia and Florida. In 1928/1929 the district became district 69 and was the whole state of Georgia and North Florida. In 1937/1938, Macon became part of district 165 then in 1949/1950 it became district 241.Then in 1957/1958 Macon became District 692, there being 2 districts in the state of Georgia. In 1983/1984 the state of Georgia was split into three districts, Macon becoming part of district 6920. Which is its present district. 

Rotary is a way of life – The secret is to live it !! 

Bony Baskin

Macon Rotary Club

Also see:

Atlanta 79

Savannah 95

Macon 104

Rockmart 5000