The Camden Rotary Club was organized under very favorable auspices. Two
prominent residents of Camden City, members of the Philadelphia Rotary Club,
Mr. Frederick Himmelein, Jr., and his son-in-law, Mr. William G. Oaks, took
the initiative by calling a meeting on December 3, 1912, in Mr. Himmelein's
home.
Twenty-five prominent citizens attended this first meeting. The group
decided to apply for a charter from the National Office in Chicago,
Illinois. At the second meeting, the Charter was received (the 59th Club of
Rotary International) and ordered recorded in the proper State and County
offices. Under the Charter, formal applications for membership were
received from thirty-eight men, including those who were present at the
first and second informal meetings. Ralph D. Baker was elected our first
President.
The following are some highlights of our first year: The first regular
monthly dinner meeting was held on January 7, 1913, at the Hotel Ridgeway.
At the April meeting our Club began to "rotate" by holding the monthly
meetings at Howard Dudley's store. The first Club roster was prepared for
the June meeting. Our first "Ladies Night" was held on November 11, 1913,
with a dinner at Howard Dudley's store, after which the group attended the
Broadway Theater. We closed our first year with a total membership of
ninety-one.
On August 4, 1914, the first edition of our present publication, "The Hub",
was issued. Another milestone came in February 1917 when the Club decided
to establish a Sinking Fund for emergency purposes. A Board of Trustees was
established to manage the investments. December 1, 1922, was the birthday
of the Student Loan Fund started with donations from individual members and
$500.00 from the club Treasury.
