The Rotary Club of Allen

Chartered May 26, 1978

The Addison Rotary Club was chartered in August, 1984 with thirty-five charter members. We were founded by Prestonwood Rotary Club. Of our sixteen past presidents, fourteen are still active members and contributors to our club. We currently have fifty-nine active members.

One of our first community projects was to help marshal and act as Master of Ceremonies for the Addison Christmas Parade. At least 50% of our members participate in this event each year. The parade serves as a large contributing factor in building synergy within our club and aligning us with the Town of Addison.

One of our early fundraising events was a booth at the annual Addison Fourth of July Kaboom Town. Over time we tried a variety of events including face painting, a fishing booth and the ill-fated watermelon sale. Fortunately, we did learn from our mistakes and finally found a winner with the basketball foul shot booth. This was another event well attended and enjoyed by club members.

Since 1988, the Addison Rotary Club has honored students from local high schools with a Student of the Month Award. Each month a student is selected and is invited along with his or her parents to our meeting. We ask the student to give a brief summary of their high school experience and their plans for the future.

Our first foray into a major community service project was the Addison Rotary Courteous Driver Award Program. This was a program involving The Town of Addison and Addison Police Department. Officers would literally present courteous drivers with a $20 check from the Addison Rotary Club for driving courteously. The Program ran from December 1st to Christmas morning for five years. The officers enjoyed this program because it was a chance for them to have a positive interaction with motorists and thank courteous drivers.

As we evolved as a club, we wanted to have a bigger impact in our community and the decision was made to start a golf tournament. Twelve years ago the Addison Rotary-Bryan's House Open Golf Tournament was born. This tournament is for the sole benefit of Bryan's House, a medically managed day care and 24-hour care facility for children with HIV/AIDS. The Bryan's House Open was an undertaking far larger than we as a club had ever done. Fortunately, all our members have participated in one way or another from day one. The first tournament netted in excess of $25,000. Going into our 12th year we have donated over $1.2 million to Bryan's House. The Addison Rotary-Bryan's House Open Tournament has become one of the premier Rotary events in our district. The tournament has also facilitated the raising of an additional $2 million for Bryan's House from the community and has made Bryan's House a household name.

The Addison Rotary Foundation not only supports Bryan's House, but also numerous other charities in our community. One hundred percent of our members are either Paul Harris Fellows or Paul Harris Sustaining Members and approximately 40% are Rotary Foundation Benefactors.

We're proud of our Club and of the significant community service projects it has undertaken in the past 18 years.

The Rotary Club of Allen Sunrise

Chartered August 14, 1997

This year in September, the Rotary Club of Allen Sunrise will mark its fifth anniversary as a new club in District 5810. In 1997, largely due to the efforts of Linda Engle of the Allen Club, assisted by Cindy Alexander, the Rotary Club of Allen Sunrise was chartered. Barbara Erwin, then Superintendent of the Allen Independent School District, served as the club's first president. We were also graced that first year with the guidance of Plano Rotary Club member L.B. Broach who was assigned to monitor our club by the District. In September 1997, thirty members were installed as charter members; five years later we still have six of those members. Over the next four years Kenneth Fulk, Danny McLarty, Kevin Kerr, and John Sprague followed in the office of president. Marty Wiarda, president elect, will begin his service as president in July.

The history of the Rotary Club of Allen Sunrise is the story of many individuals stepping up and volunteering their time and their talent to respond to the needs of our community and of Rotary International. It is a special honor for the club to actively participate in the RYLA program, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. Each year, under the leadership of Steve Shafranek, the Sunrise Club sponsors two students, juniors at Allen High School, to participate in the week-long RYLA leadership camp. We are especially proud to have these students return and report on how much the experience has meant to them.

This year, with membership being a major focus of Rotary International, the club organized a New Member Orientation workshop under the direction of past president Kevin Kerr. While many neighboring clubs were invited, attendance came from the two Allen Clubs and the McKinney Sunrise Club. District Governor-Elect Pete Snider, Past District Governor Jim Griffith and a variety of service chairpersons from the two Allen clubs conducted the event. Plans are under way for follow-up orientation workshops.

It is with great pride that the Rotary Club of Allen Sunrise partners with the Allen Independent School District in its volunteer work. For several years our members teamed up with the Channels Program in mentoring students at the middle school level. Under the direction of past president Kenneth Fulk, each year a growing number of our members continue to volunteer to read one-to-one with students at Rountree Elementary School.

On the national front this past year, in response to the horrible events of September 11, 2001, the club was able to make a financial donation to the Red Cross of America for its relief fund. And internationally, the club has arranged a small matching grant from the District to assist Dr. Tom Brian of Allen with his Send Hope dental service program to the indigenous in the far reaches of Honduras.

Some of the club's community service activities over its five-year span include: hosting an appreciation breakfast for the Allen Fire Department and Police Department, adopting a mile and maintaining a clean-up schedule for a road in Allen, and volunteering for the Allen Chamber of Commerce Northern Lights Christmas holiday activity. This year, club member Larry Becker accepted the challenge of Rotary International and organized the first Art and Poster contest for middle school age children. The two Allen clubs sponsored contestants who went on to be judged at the District level. He followed this success by arranging for the Sunrise club to hold a Four-Way Speech contest and send a contestant to the annual District competition.

The premier annual activity of the club, largely through the efforts of club member Susie McCloud over the years, and community service chair Bill Rushing this year, has been to sponsor the annual Allen Christmas parade. This is an activity which we partner with the noon club to accomplish. It's such an exciting event to see nearly a hundred floats and many hundreds of kids make their way through Allen with the Rotary banner leading the way.

We have seen many members come and go over five years, and many have made significant contributions. One such member is Pat Schmoranz, a past district governor from Florida, who provided much insight and guidance over the past year. To these and, to all our members, we say thank you.

John Sprague, President 2001-2002

The Rotary Club of Bonham

Chartered April 14, 1921

Bonham Rotary Club was organized in April, 1921, largely through the efforts of Ralph A Risser, who was sold on Rotary and its motto, "He profits most who serves best."

Mr. Risser worked constantly until he had secured twenty-five members, the required number for formation of a Rotary Club. That same club has functioned faithfully and well since, profiting much by its well-laid foundation as well instilled in the hearts and minds of its membership by Mr. Risser. Unanimously, Mr. Risser was elected to serve as the first president of the Bonham Rotary Club.

Other officers of the club were M.A. Taylor, vice-president; Charles R. Inglish, secretary; and Bland Smith, treasurer. The first meeting of the club was held in the basement of the U.S.A. Presbyterian Church, with Mr. Risser explaining the aims and ideals of the organization.

At this initial meeting, he explained that the only obligations imposed by Rotary are the maintenance of high business standards, a militant of good citizenship, an unswerving loyalty to one's government, active participation in all matters before the club, and active membership in craft, civic, charitable and commercial organizations.

The official charter date is May 1, 1921 for the Bonham Rotary Club. The club at the time of its admission to membership of Rotary International was situated in District 18. Subsequently, it was located in the following districts, each change becoming effective in the year stated: 1922, District 13; 1925, District 48; 1937, District 128; 1949, District 188, 1973 District 581; 1991, District 5810.

The Bonham Rotary Club has been active since its inception with the community and particularly the youth. As early as 1922, a boys club was established in order to encourage boys to stay in school, stressing the importance of education. A student loan fund was established enabling many students to attend college. Other youth participation has been with Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls, Little League Baseball, the Bonham Free Kindergarten, Special Olympics and DFYIT (Drug-Free Youth in Texas).

Countless community projects have been completed since the beginning of this club. Still to this day efforts are made to contribute to the community and youth. The Bonham Club has participated in the Youth Exchange offered through Rotary International as well as the Group Study Exchange. What a pleasure it is to meet and share ideas with our visiting guests from other parts of the world. In the past Rotary was composed of men only, but soon asked the business women to become a part of Rotary. The women of Bonham Rotary are active and participate fully as officers and directors.

Mr. J.O. Tate served as District Governor in 1973. Ms. Margaret Morston was the first and only pianist until 1960. Mr. Walter Puckett served as secretary from 1939-1964. Many continue to follow in their leadership roles.

The Bonham Rotary Club organized the Sherman Rotary Club No. 1364 on March 2, 1923, by Will H Evans. Later, Mr. Evans became a member of the Sherman Rotary and was a member until his death.

The Bonham Rotary Club will have been established eighty-one years this May, 2002. With much tradition, we continue to support the ideal of service as a basis for worthy enterprise.

The Rotary Club of Carrollton-Farmers Branch

Chartered November 30, 1960  

The original club was chartered on Wednesday, November 30, 1960. Recommended by District Governor Calvin Clyde, Jr., and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Dallas, its chartered name was "The Rotary Club of Carrollton, Texas, U.S.A." Meetings were held weekly at noon, beginning the next day at the Tower Hotel Restaurant, 10108 Harry Hines Boulevard, just north of the Harry Hines circle, in Dallas.

The founding President was Edgar A. Pledger, Jr., Vice President was Jack Blanton, and Jack Ramsay, Jr. and D. E. Spradling were Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. The directors were Bill Proctor, Ray Erickson, Kenneth Moore and the ever-present Carl "Catfish" Montgomery. Included among the programs the first year were Dr. Willis Tate, President of SMU, Jim Barton talking about the Dallas Texans Professional Football Club (Lamar Hunt's AFL Team), and George Coker, Manager of Love Field. In 1966, under President D. E. Spradling, the club made its first scholarship award. Totaling $250, it was presented to R. L. Turner H.S.

The name was not officially changed to "The Rotary Club of Carrollton-Farmers Branch, Texas, U.S.A" until 1975, under President John Prickett. The club met at the Tower for 3 years, until moving in 1963-64, under President Carl Fleming, to Otis Engineering on Beltline in Carrollton. With Robert H. Davis at the helm in 1969-70, the club moved to the new Holiday Inn restaurant on the east side of IH-35E, just north of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch boundary.

President Percy Pentecost, in 1977-78, started the tradition of member Rotarians presenting a three-minute autobiography/vocational talk, and that year, membership in the club went over 100 for the first time.

In 1985-86 and 86-87, under the direction of Presidents Phillip Foote and Gary Carley respectively, the club sponsored two new Rotary Clubs. The first was Farmers Branch, with first president Paul Watten, which met Mondays at noon at the Ramada Inn Restaurant (it became the Best Western Oak Tree Inn in 1989) in Farmers Branch. The second was Carrollton Sunrise, with President Andrew Jurisich, which met at Trinity Medical Center in Carrollton. Bill Innes was the District Governor's Special Representative for establishing the new clubs.

On February 13, 1986, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club celebrated its 25th Anniversary at Brookhaven Country Club, under the direction of President Phillip Foote.

In January of 1988, while Phillip Hettich was president, the club admitted its first woman member, Patsy Fulton of Brookhaven College. In 1989-90, during Dick Calvert's presidential term, the Carrollton Health Department shuttered the kitchen of the old meeting place. After eating cold catered chicken fried steaks and beans for a couple of months, the meeting place was moved to its present meeting place, the Brookhaven Country Club.

In June 1990, club members Gary Embrey and Bill Innes, at the behest of District 581 (now District 5810) Governor Milton Kessel, went to Taos, New Mexico, to observe first-hand a RYLA Camp (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) in operation. The next June, they, along with Committee Chairman Chris C. Christopher, and a number of members of the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club, including Dana Mackison, founded the District 5810 Camp RYLA at Lake Bridgeport. Embrey was the first Camp Director, and Innes was the assistant Camp Director. Mackison has served all 11 years of the camp's existence as Program Director and Activities Chairman.

In April, 1994, U. S. President George W. Bush spoke to the club, while he was still the managing partner of the Texas Rangers Baseball Club. That was the meeting that President Tom McWhirter discussed with the Secret Service the advisability of displaying a big butcher knife.

Two months later, at the District 5810 Awards Banquet on June 3, the club received the Presidential Citation for Balanced Club Achievement for the 1993-94 Rotary year. This was the second year of the Presidential Citation program, and the first of eight consecutive citations for the club. The club has had two District 5810 Rotarians of the Year, Dana Mackison and Doug Rudman, and four District 5810 Award winners, David James, PDG Walt Leonard, Keith Vanderburg and Shawn Bhagat.

Doug Rudman became the first president to serve longer than one year, when he replaced Kennedy Quick in January of 1996. He served until June 30, 1997. During his term, the club's Foundation was created, shepherded by 1997-98 president Craig Greenway. During Greenway's year, the club recognized 21 people as Paul Harris Fellows, the record for any year. Theodora A. Barker, for 1998-99, was the first woman president of the club.

On November 30, 2000, the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Rotary Club celebrated its 40th Anniversary at Brookhaven Country Club at its regular luncheon meeting, under the direction of President Fred Ferguson.

Presently, 15 of the 42 presidents the club has had since its inception are still active or honorary members, and 1982-83 president George Grimmer is an active member of the Farmers Branch Rotary Club, which he helped found. Still active in today's club are 47 Paul Harris Fellows, and charter member Carl "Catfish" Montgomery, who is an honorary member.

Douglas E. Rudman, President 1995-1997

The Rotary Club of Commerce

Chartered October 18, 1921

The founding of the Rotary Club on Tuesday, October 18, 1921 was a major event in the annals of Commerce history, and the story was page one news in the Commerce daily paper of October 19, 1921. Under the heading "Rotary Club is organized here", the Journal described the occasion as follows:

"A movement that had been on foot for sometime to organize a Rotary Club in Commerce came to a successful head Tuesday afternoon when the organization was perfected by the election of directors and officers. Rotary law requires that new clubs applying for charters must not have less than fifteen nor more than twenty-five charter members, and that they must not represent the same line of business."

The Commerce Rotary Cluib started with eighteen members. The president of East Texas State Normal College, Randolph B. Binnion, was the first president.

Since its founding, the Commerce Club has provided continual support to the community and to the world. The Club has been a leader in the Ambassadorial Scholarship program, continuing to successfully identify and sponsor these outbound scholars. In addition, the Club provides two college scholarships annually to Commerce high school seniors. A Mother's Day program provides complimentary bud vases to female nursing home residents.

The Club is currently assisting a local group of citizens, headed by Rotarians, with the establishment of a Children's Museum in Commerce. During the city's annual Bois 'd Arc Bash celebration, the Club sponsors a Chili Cook-off, which attracts competitors from throughout the state.

The Club has participated in many of the programs offered by Rotary International, such as Matching Grants, in which the Club provided fire extinguishers, refrigerators, and a bus to a children's home in Iqueque, Chile. The Club has participated in youth exchange, mini-exchange, Group Study Exchange, Camp Enterprise, and Camp RYLA. We are currently assisting a local group of citizens, headed by Rotarians, with the establishment of a Children's Museum in Commerce. Numerous members of the club provide fifty percent of the contribution.

In 1996, the club commemorated its 75th Anniversary with a celebration held on the campus of Texas A&M University-Commerce. During its existence, the club has gained the admiration and respect of the local citizenry, and is recognized as an integral part of the community. The thirty members are community leaders, well respected within their chosen professions.

The membership is commited to continuing its proud legacy by sharing the Rotary philosophy with all of Commerce.

The Rotary Club of Coppell

Chartered June 10, 1983

The Coppell Rotary Club was chartered in June 1983 and from the beginning established a strong partnership with the citizens of Coppell to make their city a better place to live, work, attend school and play.

Mr. Ron Beggs, Club President, and the other charter members of the Club determined early on that in order to make any significant contributions to Coppell they would have to develop fund raising projects to finance their community support programs. In December of that first year the Coppell Rotarians came up with the idea of sponsoring a community wide event to celebrate the heritage of their small but growing city. On May 5, 1984, the inaugural Coppell Rotary Founders Day celebration was hosted by the Club and became a major fund raising project for many years to come.

In the ensuing years the Coppell Rotary Club made major contributions to the community parks, schools, YMCA and public library. Coppell Rotarians built a pavilion at Andy Brown Park, provided picnic tables and BBQ grills for other neighborhood parks, built a walking bridge at another park, made a major financial contribution and provided a significant amount of labor in the construction of Kid County community playground, and donated over 3,000 trees to the City through the District 5810 Rotatree Program.

Coppell schools received a banner machine, art display stands, overhead projectors, sprinkler systems for school playgrounds, running tracks, backstops, football goal posts, maps, globes and financial grants. In addition, 200 Coppell High School seniors have been recognized for their academic, athletic, school and community achievements as Students of the Month and 25 seniors received college scholarships from the Coppell Rotary Club.

The Coppell Rotary Club was a major contributor to the community YMCA from the very beginning, providing much needed financial support to establish and maintain effective programs for the citizens of Coppell.

Coppell Rotarians supported the public library by providing periodical publications, furnishing a library conference room and providing over $28,000 in outright financial grants.

In addition, the Coppell Rotary Club has made significant contributions in the International Avenue of Service. The Club has participated in teacher and student exchange programs as well as GSE Teams. The Club sponsored student exchanges with the countries of Belgium, France, Norway, South Africa, Thailand and Japan. Also, the club partnered with the Rotary Clubs of Carrollton-Farmers Branch and Cozumel, Mexico, providing much needed school supplies as well as assisting with upgrading the local school facilities in Cozumel. Finally, the Club sponsored Jennifer Bayne, who received a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, which allowed her to further her studies in England.

The Club recognizes the important role of the Rotary Foundation around the world and has long been a strong supporter through the Paul Harris Fellow Program, resulting in sixty-six current and former members and spouses becoming Paul Harris Fellows. Additionally, the Club currently has six Rotary Foundation Benefactors.

The Coppell Rotary Club has accomplished much in the past nineteen years, but certainly one of the most significant accomplishments has to be the contributions made to more than forty young people from the Coppell High School who were sponsored to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camps. Since the very beginning of RYLA in District 5810, this Club has provided a number of camp counselors and assistant counselors to support this effort, as well as equipment, supplies and transportation. The investments made in the lives of the young people from Coppell who have attended RYLA Camp will live on and certainly pay dividends to the schools, communities and companies they associate with in the years ahead.

The Coppell Rotary Club has been blessed with a dedicated and talented group of members who have, over the years, touched the lives of many and made Coppell and other parts of the world a better place to live. Our members have embraced the Object of Rotary and encouraged and fostered the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.

The Rotary Club of Dallas

Chartered April 20, 1911

http://www.dallasrotary.org  

In late 1910, Price Cross of Dallas visited the Rotary Club of San Francisco. He returned to Dallas and discussed the Rotary idea with Fred Johnson and others. They invited a number of Dallas business and professional leaders to a meeting at the Oriental Hotel on April 20, 1911. They organized the Rotary Club of Dallas, the first club in the State of Texas and 39th in all of Rotary. Marvin E. Martin was the first President.

The Dallas Rotary Club met for luncheon each Thursday noon at the Oriental Hotel. Lunch cost $.50, the Club initiation fee was $5.00 and the Club dues were $12.00 per year.

The Dallas Rotarian began publication in 1912, but only a few copies have survived. The name was later changed to Rotograms to avoid a name-conflict with The Rotary Magazine, "The Rotarian".

Name buttons were first used in 1913.

Rotary Districts were first formed in 1914. Dallas was in District 12, the Texas District. Our first District Governor was Lynn B . Milam (1916-1917). Lynn, like Price Cross, was never president of Dallas Rotary, even though they both contributed greatily to the growth of the club.

In 1919, "Bill" Fukushima came from Japan to open a trading business. He joined Dallas Rotary. His friend, Umekishi Yoneyama visited Dallas and learned of Rotary. In 1920, he organized the Tokyo Rotary Club.

Through its history Dallas Rotary has been a "service club." It has helped flood and storm victims, handicapped individuals, orphans, shut-ins, the needy, the blind, newsboys, students, Boy Scouts, The Salvation Army, Community Chest, United Way and others.

The Oriental Hotel had been torn down. The Baker Hotel opened on the site of the old Oriental. Rotary met there for the next 48 years. Ms. Lorella Cullum was the Dallas Rotary Club pianist for the next 48 years. In 1979, the Baker was scheduled for demolition. The club moved to the Hilton Hotel for three years and then found a permanent home at the historic Union Station.

In 1946, the Rotary Glee Club was organized. This later would be known as the Greater Dallas Rotary Chorus. The chorus has traveled world wide to sing at Rotary conventions. Dr. Travis Shelton was the director for many years, followed by Thomas R. Britt. Mrs. Inez Teddlie has been the pianist for the Chorus, as well as playing for the Dallas Rotary Club luncheons.

In 1971, the Rotary Townhouse became the club's most ambitious project. It was a halfway home for judicated young people to provide a positive life style for six to twelve months prior to their release. The project continued for twenty years before it was turned over to the Salvation Army.

Camp Enterprise, a three day event to teach high school students the Free Enterprise system, was started in the mid-80s, under the direction of Dallas Rotarian Doug Reeder.

In 1987, Rotary International began it most ambitious project ever, to inoculate all of world's children against Polio and other dread diseases. Dallas Rotary's gifts and pledges would inoculate 1,000,000 kids in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

In that same year, the first woman Dallas Rotarian, Nicki Nicol, was elected to membership. She was the daughter of PDG Bill Nicol.

The Dallas Rotary Club is the direct sponsor of twelve other Dallas area Rotary Clubs and the grandparent to more than thirty other clubs.

Dallas Rotary has hosted three Rotary International Conventions....1929, 1958 and 1982.

In 2002, we celebrated our 91st birthday. The Who's Who of Dallas Rotary members lives today on school houses and street signs. Without question, the Dallas Rotary Club has been an integral part of the history of Dallas.

The Rotary Club of Dallas Market Center

Chartered May 24, 1971

The Brookhollow Rotary was conceived at a meeting of Jerry Page of Dallas Downtown, Larry Beckman of Park Cities, and two prospective members, Bob Michaels and Roland Cazes. Bob and Roland became the first two Presidents of the newly founded Club.

In 1987, following a move to the Dallas Market Center, President Joe Bender lead a move to change the name to the Dallas Market Center Rotary Club. In 1995, with Don Arquit as President, The Club switched from a Monday breakfast club, to a Tuesday noon club.

The Club has followed a tradition of believing that a smaller club can make tremendous contributions to the world community, and affect the lives of many, many people, by helping others. As it was put some years later, "Small Clubs can Change the World". The Club has attacked this daunting task by:

First - In order to finance our goals, the Club has raised a great deal of money through golf tournaments, silent auctions, the sale of Christmas gifts, donations from local businesses, project sponsorships, fruit sales, and on and on.

Next - Selecting projects that will accomplish our goals such as:

Obtaining a RI matching grant to equip the charity hospital in Monterrey, Mexico with new neo-natal care equipment which, each year, saves the lives of over 300 special-needs babies.

Obtaining a RI grant to help found a camp for children with Down's Syndrome in Monterrey, Mexico. Monterrey had the highest incidence of Down's Syndrome of any major city in North America.

By participating in Rotary International's fight against Polio by having every member contribute $1,000.00 (a Paul Harris Fellow) to eradicate this dread disease; the results have been magnificent.

By recognizing the work of others in our community who fight to "Change the World" through programs such as the "Unsung Hero's Award" program where 13 citizens of Dallas have been awarded Paul Harris fellows as a "thank you" for their efforts in helping others.

By organizing blood drives, honoring the Police of the Month, the Firefighter of the year, the student of the month from North Dallas High School, and on and on.

By donating a computer to a student in Macedonia, hosting Russians to learn about the free enterprise system, hosting foreign exchange students, sponsoring Ambassadorial Scholars, etc.

By providing the leadership of our members Mark Healy and Tom Bright to help found, and then direct District projects such as Camp RYLA, The Salvation Army Angel Tree project, etc.

By providing thought provoking guest speakers who stimulate and educate our members. We have learned about the life of a missionary in new Guinea; the lack of hospital facilities in India; boxing reform from the International Secretary of the World Boxing Council; about the Palestinian and Israeli's problem; about Christians and Muslims on the resolution of a very difficult situation, to name just a few. The way to peace is through the understanding of others. The way to help is "do something".

Over the years, the Club has established a tradition of District leadership, with members serving on the District Round Table every year since it's founding, chairing the District Conference, acting as chair person of Camp RYLA, acting as Camp Director for Camp RYLA, and providing an Assistant District Governor. And last, but certainly not least, we are proud to announce that one of our own, Mark Healy, will be the District Governor of Rotary District 5810 in 2003-2004.

So, in the end, the question we ask ourselves is "have we met our goals of service over the years"? The answer is a resounding "yes", thanks to many dedicated members who have worked diligently towards that goal. One of the secrets of our success has been the retention of a core of members, including 9 past presidents who are still active members and two founding members (up to 2 years ago).

But we are not finished. New projects come to our attention every year, and we must continually meet these needs in order to continue pursing our goal of "Changing the World" through our good works. To borrow a line from the Jaycee Creed, we are proud to say that "Service to Humanity is the Best Work of Life".

The Rotary Club of Dallas North

Chartered May 17, 1962

The Dallas North Rotary Club started out with 25 members; unfortunately, all of them have gone on to their heavenly reward.

The Dallas North Rotary Club has had a very rich history.

Bob Burnam was certainly one of the most active Rotarians to have ever joined the Dallas North Club. He joined in the year of 1968 and passed away in the year 2000, with 32 years perfect attendance. He was the Sergeant at Arms and Secretary for all of those years. He also produced the bulletin as well as being treasurer and president! We are talking about true dedication!

Over the years the club grew and prospered. We inducted our first lady Rotarian, Susan Burns. We have had a total of 11 women members over the years and now have 3. One of the women, Cathy Rogers is a past president of our club.

Our silver anniversary celebration was held in 1987. The highlight of the evening was entertainment from a young Blue Grass Band that is now better known as the "Dixie Chicks"! Yes, the club knew them when!

Our most prolific community project has been the starting of the Marcus Annex. The Marcus Annex is the temporary home of many of our senior citizens. They are able to play bingo, cards, do exercise, and just visit and enjoy a meal together.

A brand new, very efficient complex has been recently built at the old site. As you enter the front door, you will see the Rotary Wheel very prominently displayed in the sitting room.

Today, Dallas North Rotary Club holds its weekly meetings at the Brookhaven Country Club, Tuesday at 11:45 am. We have one of the best program chairman in our district, Dave Curtis. He consistently brings us most interesting programs. On your next "make-up", come to Dallas North and be prepared for a very interesting and well-presented program.

We feel communications with the members as well as the community is very important. To this end Dallas North Rotary Club started its own website in the year 2000. The URL is: http://dallasnorthrotary.com. On this website you will find a calendar of programs, club roster, as well as a map to our meeting place at Brookhaven Country Club. You will also find a lot of pictures of events and meetings. Any questions about the website should be directed to bill@mespn.com.

The Dallas North Rotary Club is a large contributor to the Rotary Foundation. We have donated somewhere in the neighborhood of $104,000. We also have 84 Paul Harris Fellows and 15 who are Paul Harris Sustaining members.

As the contributor of this bit of history, I am very proud to be a member of this club. I moved from the island of Saipan, where there is only one Rotary Club. I was the president-elect for the year 2000 for Saipan. Since I moved to Dallas and joined the Dallas North Rotary Club, I have become very interested in the history and events of Dallas. The members were very gracious to vote me President for 2001-2002.

We're all proud of Dallas North....and hope you will visit us at your first opportunity.

Bill Michling, President (2001-2002)

The Rotary Club of Denison

Chartered June 1, 1916

The national Rotary organization had existed only eleven years when the Denison Club was granted Charter No. 227, making the Denison Rotary Club one of oldest Rotary clubs in Texas.

Father and first president of the Denison Rotary Club was Dr. J.E. Aubrey, a colorful Denisonian whom older residents still remember. Dr. Aubrey was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church and later served as interim secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. But it was as a lecturer that Dr. Aubrey stood the tallest. He was a member of the once flourishing Chautauqua lecture group and toured much of the country as a speaker. Dr. Aubrey called four friends together to lay plans for the club: G.O. Morgan, head of the Denison Peanut Co., Guy Alexander, Insurance, Jack Tinsman, Druggist and H.E. Ellis, Editor of the Denison Herald. They invited others to each lunch meeting and soon they had enough men interested in Rotary to begin. The club was granted probationary membership by the National Organization, and on June 1, 1916, a charter was granted.

The Denison Rotary Club was established with what is a roster of who's who of Denison: J.E. Aubrey, H.C. Platter-Importer, F.H. Kofieldt, H.W. Lingo, J.W. Madden, P.H. Tobin, F.B. Hughes, and J.R. Handy. An equal list of notables that served as president of the club were W.B. Munson, 1918-19, Ross Stoddard, 1927-28, Jerome McKinney, 1931-32, W.L Ashburn, 1939-40, and W.B. Munson III, 1953-54 and the list goes on.

Much of the history of the city of Denison and the Rotary Club of Denison are coterminous. Established by community leaders, the Club has led the community in a wide variety of ventures from industrial and economic development, through improvements to hospitals, libraries, and parks, to promoting quality education.

By 1926, the Denison Rotary Club was awarding scholarships to outstanding students. At that time gifts of $50.00 were made. Currently, scholarships in excess of $4,000 are awarded annually to outstanding high school students. Thelma Braun, our pianist for seventy years, knowing the good works of the Denison Rotary, bequeathed the club $15,000 that was used to establish "The Thelma Braun Rotary Scholarship Fund" at Grayson College.

The Denison Rotary Club's commitment to youth has led our club to sponsor scholarships yearly to RYLA "Rotary Youth Leadership Awards". We presently send four young leaders to camp each year. Each student tells us it is a once in a lifetime experience. Also, the club sends young school children to Camp Goddard for a week of unforgettable experience. Last year we sponsored twenty four students.

Our commitment to youth and our belief in "service before self" led to establishing a new club at Denison High School. The Interact, (International Action) sponsored by the Denison Rotary Club, is a club, chartered in 2001, under the direction of Mike Haskins.

The Denison Rotary Club created the "Denison Organ Transplant Foundation" for the purpose of helping patients with organ transplant expenses. Wayne Cabaniss organized community and Rotary contributions to establish the Foundation in 1991. To date the Denison Rotary Club has aided three transplant patients.

We would be remiss if we did not mention the 42 years of service by Joe Dusek in the capacity of treasurer/secretary. Joe, today, is our only living honorary member and has seen the Denison Rotary Club grow to its highest membership to date: 116 members-all business and community leaders who volunteer their time and money to support the goals of mankind. Our present Rotary International President, Richard King, reminds us of the words spoken by Scrooge in the timeless story by Charles Dickens "mankind is our business"

The Rotary Club of Desoto

Chartered February 1, 1965

Plans for organization of a new Rotary Club in Southwest Dallas County were formulated in March 1964. Direction for this action came from Jack F. Gibson, Governor of Rotary District 581, to officials of the Oak Cliff Rotary Club. The South Dallas Rotary Club charter was approved by Rotary International effective February 1, 1965. Over the 37 year life span of what is now the DeSoto Rotary Club there were changes in meeting places as well as of club names. The first name change for the club occurred September 28, 1971, when Rotary International approved the renaming of the South Dallas Rotary Club to Dallas Red Bird Rotary Club. Over a ten year period the club's membership changed to predominately DeSoto businessmen and organization of a new Rotary Club in Duncanville in 1983 formed the basis for another name change and subsequent relocation. Effective January 28, 1984, Rotary International approved the new name of the Rotary Club of DeSoto.

The club's membership has generally ranged from 30 to 40 members and current membership includes 40 Rotarians whose professions and businesses represent much of the diversity in the business community. An all male club until 1989, the DeSoto Rotary Club inducted Janet Stanton, Attorney, as its first lady Rotarian.

Since its beginning, the DeSoto Rotary Club has been active in service to the community, especially through contributions to our "Youth of Today, Leaders of Tomorrow". This is still the theme of the annual Golf Tournament held each year since May, 1988. The DeSoto club has contributed to this effort through 4-H Club and Future Farmer of America projects, Community Easter Egg Hunt, Scholarships to graduating high school seniors, as a Lead Donor for the beginning of DeSoto Education Foundation. The club has also participated in RYLA and Rotary International's foreign exchange student program, development of the McMillan Award and an Interact Club, Ace in the Hole program, eye glasses to children in San Pedro Sula and a Hearing Aid Program.

In addition to the above mentioned, below is a summary of some of the programs that the DeSoto Rotary Club has developed and contributed through over the last 37 years.

1987 - First Rotary International exchange student   

1988-present - First Annual Benefit Golf Tournament

1988-present - Santa Calling to Kindergarten thru 3rd Grade

1989 - 1991 Thanksgiving Community Outreach Feast for the Homeless

1987 - 1991 DeSoto Rotary Haunted House, benefiting youth organizations

1991-present - Sponsoring 2 students to Camp RYLA

1994 - International Service matching grant with our sister club Kaputzil in Honduras. We obtained a Rotary Foundation grant of $12,000 for L'A Tigra Nations Rain Forest by installing walking paths and preservation of the forest. Tegucigalpa received 40% of the drinking water from the forest. We also provided medical equipment.

1995 - Changed from noon club to a breakfast club to successfully increase membership.               

1996 - Creation of McMillan Award Scholarship in Memory of Rotarian Col. McMillan

1997-present - Established an on-going support of Interact

1998-present - Club Medisend-medical supplies shipped to Third-world countries. Send-a-Book - books sent to Philippines for School children

1998-present - Ace in the Hole - school supplies for students with Flag Program - Subscription to put flags out on five holidays a year.

1999 - Eyeglasses to San Pedro Sula children

2000 - Hearing Aid Program, to assist those who will not have the needed hearing aid otherwise.

Additional projects include annually helping the DeSoto Outreach Center around Thanksgiving and Christmas, participation in DeSoto's Heritage Festival with a Pancake Breakfast and/or Funnel cakes.

Building upon its first 37 years of service to Rotary and the community, the DeSoto Rotary Club is committed to an active role in spreading international goodwill and helping to make DeSoto a better place in which to live.

The Rotary Club of Duncanville

Chartered August 4, 1983

The Rotary Club of Duncanville had its start while Rotarian Cliff Boyd was serving as mayor of Duncanville. Cliff saw the need for a Rotary club in Duncanville and took the steps to bring a club to our city. Cliff was a member of the Redbird Rotary club (now DeSoto) and was serving as President-Elect of that club. Believing that Duncanville needed a club ". . . to serve the community in which its members were most active in business and social life." He asked the Red Bird club for their endorsement, which they freely gave, and also agreed to serve as the sponsoring club.

District Governor Bill Aston appointed PDG Doyle McKinney to serve as the Governor's special representative in forming the club. The Rotary club of Duncanville was chartered on August 4, 1983, becoming the 40th club in District 5810. The charter banquet was held on September 27, 1983 at the Holiday Inn in Duncanville. Cliff Boyd was inducted as the charter president, John Davis as club treasurer and Jiten Shah as an original board member.

These three charter members, along with charter member Dr. Jim Tilger, remain active in the club, as is PDG Doyle McKinney, as an honorary member. The installing official was DG Bill Aston with participation by PDGs Austin Watson, Frank Monroe and Doyle McKinney.

The club has always enjoyed strong, positive leadership, from the founding president to the present time. Two District Governors have emerged from its ranks. PDG Herb Kamm served as governor during the year 1997-98 and Jim Tow has served as District Governor during 2001-2002. The club was among the first to induct a female member into the club, with Patsy Ross becoming a member in 1987-88 under the leadership of President Dr. Jim Tilger. Mary Fae Kamm became the first female president during the Rotary year of 1999-2000.

During its history, members of the club have been prominent in the leadership of the city. Members have served as mayor, city-council members, city commission members, county commission members, Duncanville ISD superintendent, and as school board trustees. As this history is written, the Mayor, three of five city council members, the city manager, School District Superintendent and several other school officials are members of the club.

A club project proudly displays the Rotary emblem in a city park which bears the name "Rotary Park." The club, through its president in 1986, petitioned the city to have the park designated in this manner in exchange for club assistance in equipping and maintaining the facility. The city approved and this park has become part of the Duncanville tour circuit. The park was renovated in 2001 as a cooperative effort between the club and the city.

New signage with the Rotary emblem at its center was constructed and commemorative plaques memorializing Paul Harris and the clubs first deceased president, Bill Godwin and honoring PDG Herb Kamm were included as part of the Rotary display.

Club fund raising projects have been popular city events also. The first fund raiser, which continues to this day was a fish fry. This event is so popular with the citizens that many of them come early and remain until late. The original Dixie Chicks have been featured as entertainers. During Rotary year 1997-98, the club initiated the community flag program. At the present time, the club displays nearly 500 flags for Duncanville residents on five major holidays, with plans to continue expanding into additional neighborhoods. These fundraisers have provided funding for myriad community youth projects, scholarship programs, Camp RYLA scholarships, outstanding vocational service projects and other community based activities. Probably the most impressive single-event fundraiser was the raffle of a 2002 Chrysler PT cruiser which produced $18,000 toward the expansion of the city Hopkins Senior Citizen Center.

Internationally, the club has been involved in many interesting projects. We have hosted Rotary Youth Exchange students from Germany and Argentina; sent Youth Exchange students to Australia and France; hosted GSE team members from the Philippines, India, Korea, Chile, Germany, and New Zealand; team members of a group of Russian entrepreneurs in cooperation with the Center for Citizen's Initiatives Productivity Enhancement Program (PEP); and members of a Russian youth internship with business program in cooperation with the University of Maryland and Irkutsk University in Siberia. The club has consistently been among the district leaders in contributions to the Rotary Foundation programs.

The Rotary club of Duncanville members have always practiced Rotary's principal motto of "Service Above Self." We proudly recite the Four Way Test at the conclusion of each meeting. It represents a philosophical statement of each member's personal belief of the manner in which Rotarians should live their lives in all relationships, business and personal.

The Rotary Club of East Dallas

Chartered August 11, 1947

Founder: PDG Briggs Todd (now a member of Rotary Club of Dallas and former District Governor in District 579 during 1961-1962 and District 581 during 1978-1979).

Accomplishments and Community Activities: East Dallas Rotary Club has sponsored two Ambassadorial Scholars and has been very active in sponsoring RYLA camp students each year. Club projects have included Christmas fruit sales, Angel Tree workers, Salvation Army Bell Ringers, installing fire/smoke detectors in homes, building handicapped ramps for people, sponsoring 4-Way Test contestants, working with the MediSend program, collecting books for shut-ins and nursing homes, working on White Rock marathons, providing Christmas gifts for children and families through the East Dallas YMCA, working on District Projects in Pottsboro and Mexico. The official club bulletin is "THE SPOKE " and was first published in the 1948-1949 year as "THE SPOKE SPEAKS". The club has from time to time sponsored District Assemblies, District Institutes, hosted GSE Teams, and were very active on the Texas Breakfast for the 1982 RI Convention in Dallas.

Several club members have served as District Committee Chairmen or District Governors' Representatives, including PDG Frank Meier, PDG Bill Frew, Gilbert Brown, Michael van Breda, and Charles Groves.

We have been privileged to be the home club of the Hon. Pete Sessions, U.S. Representative, and the Hon. Nancy Foster, Texas State Grey Haired Legislator.

District Governors from East Dallas Rotary Club:

PDG Briggs Todd 1961-1962 in D579 & 1978-1979 in D581

PDG Frank L. Meier 1981-1982

PDG William M. "Bill" Frew 1998-1999

Gilbert Smith Awardees:

PDG Frank L. Meier

PP Tipton Housewright

PDG William Frew

The Rotary Club of Ennis

Chartered June 17, 1972

The Rotary Club of Ennis was chartered on June 17, 1972 as the 40th club in District 581(0), in a precedent-setting ceremony. It was precedent-setting because the charter was issued by Rotary International President Roy Hickman of Birmingham, Alabama, with two international directors present. The directors were Ben F. Hormel, of McCook, Nebraska, and Cornelius Myerink of The Netherlands. There were a great many Rotarians from all over the world in attendance. R.I. had just concluded the International Convention in Houston, and Hickman promised Pete Brewster, a personal friend of his and the first president of the Ennis Club, that if he would form the club, they would come to make the presentation. It was also a homecoming of sorts to Hickman, because his wife, Dorothy Dunkerley, was reared in Ennis.The Greater Dallas Rotary Chorus provided the entertainment to the many dignitaries gathered at the SPJST Hall for the ceremony.

Other officers of the new Ennis Club were E. D. Behne, vice-president; Charles Holubar, secretary-treasurer; and Harold Jones, sergeant-at-arms.

Other Ennis Club members on charter night were Gordon Crigger, Don Essary, George Garrard, Forrest Green, Claude Geriffin, Don Briffith, Don Heine, Wayne Hackney, George Hines, Wesley Honza, J. K. Jacobs, Jake Lawhon, Dennis Little, Guy Martin, Jim McCann, Ken McCrady, Duane Potter, Dwayne Rhea, Bill Rider, Ted Wagner, Fred White, Haves White and James Wilhoite.

Sponsoring club was the Waxahachie Rotary Club and the program was emceed by Waxahachie Club president, Dr. Allan Dutton.

The Rotary Club of Ennis still boasts about 25 active members who support the programs of R.I., District 5810 and the local community. The annual Polka Festival 10k run is the largest fund raiser and provides support to many local charities and projects, such as the Boys and Girls Club, A-Cross, D-FY-IT, Paul Harris Awards, Helping Hands of Ennis, Golden Circle, Scholarships, Boy Scouts, Meals on Wheels, Angel Tree, Ennis Christmas Lights, Camp RYLA and others. One of the projects that Rotarians are most proud of is the flag program. For a small fee, the Rotary Club will display the U.S. flag for individuals or businesses on "flag" days. There are literally hundreds of subscribers to this program in the city of Ennis.

The Rotary Club of Fair Park

Chartered Feb. 19, 1950

The Rotary Club of Fair Park began as a provisional club under the direction of the Dallas Rotary Club in 1949. The club was chartered as the Rotary Club of South Dallas on Feb.13, 1950. In 1954, the club moved their meeting place to the grounds of Fair Park and changed the name to the Rotary Club of Fair Park, chartered as such on July 10, 1955. In 1989, the club moved to the Lakewood Country Club, where it meets each Thursday at noon.

The membership of this club has a great history. PDG Austin Watson, who joined in 1951, has the longest membership. Several of the current members have perfect attendance for over 30 years. Today, the club averages about 35 members with approximately 80% of members who carry perfect attendance. Fair Park Rotary has the great distinction of having five of its members serve as Governor of District 5810. These include: Austin Watson (1968-69), Dr. Wallace Bailey (1974-75) , Dick Cobb (1982-83), Vactor Stanford (1988-90) and Milton Kessel (1990-91).

Rotary Foundation giving has kept this club at or near the top of the district in per capita giving for many years. During the 2000-2001 Rotary year, the per capita giving ($196.00) was second among the district's 58 clubs. During the administration of Paul Wilson (1998-99), it became the first in the world to achieve 100% Paul Harris Fellows and 100% Rotary Foundation Benefactors.

The well known "Rotanews" was started by PDG Austin Watson in 1953, and he and his son, PP Tony Watson still publish it weekly. It is mailed to Rotarians and friends all over the world.

Fair Park Rotary has been instrumental in starting other Rotary clubs. In 1960, under the leadership of PP Gene McDaniel, our club ceded part of its territory to organize the White Rock Club, and in 1979, Gene also led the organizational team for the Pleasant Grove Club.

Internationally, the Fair Park Rotary Club has been very involved. PP Paul Rosamond was chair of the International Chess Fellowship from 1977-1989. PDG Vac Stanford was chair of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR) in 1982-84. While International President, Vac led a group of five Flying Rotarians across the Atlantic, in private planes, to the International Convention in Birmingham, England. At the 2002 International Convention in Barcelona, PP Tony Watson will be installed as International President of IFFR for a two-year term (2002-04). PP June Weber and PP Sandy Landers started a partnership with the Rotary Clubs in Haiti, and in 2001, PP Paul Wilson organized a Rotary Matching Grant ($25,000) to buy an ambulance to service a hospital in Haiti. In 2001, Dr. Paul Mathai also received a matching grant for a project in India where our clubs' funds would provide equipment for a vocational training center. The club has also provided clothes for needy children in the Philippines and safety equipment for a vocational school in the Dominican Republic.

In the community, Fair Park Rotarians have honored police officers and teachers monthly under the direction of PP JJ Lowe and Rev. Brian McPherson. The club often participates in the White Rock Lake Clean Up, Soup Kitchens, Salvation Army bell ringing, the Angel Tree, the Lakewood Street Dance, the Train Exhibit benefiting the Ronald McDonald house and the butterfly exhibit during the State Fair.

The club's fund- raisers include pancake breakfasts, garage sales, chili cook-offs and remodeling houses. This money has gone to worthy causes like Teen Challenge (through PP Paul Ecker), Challenge Air (through member Theron Wright), college scholarships and underwriting a children's activity book for the SPCA, which was written by member Kim Conover.

In 1991, PDG Milton Kessel initiated the District's very successful RYLA camp, where Fair Park Rotary sponsors several students each year. The club also has hosted Group Study Exchange participants and has sponsored Ambassadorial Scholars. Fair Park has provided several college scholarships and has supported foreign students who have studied in the USA. PP Paul Rosamond organizes the Four Way Speech Contest for the club each year. Furthermore, several members have also participated in the District's Rotary Chorus, where PP Tom Brown is still a member.

Fair Park Rotary is a highly successful and dedicated group. It strives to contribute both funds and manpower to all avenues of service and continues to be recognized by receiving the Presidential Citation from the District for the past number of years. We're alive and well....thank you!

The Rotary Club of Farmers Branch

The Farmers Branch Rotary Club was chartered in 1986 with 27 members. The club was founded by the Carrollton-Farmers Branch Club. We currently have 39 members.

One of our first community projects was to sponsor a golf tournament for charity. This past year was our 16th annual event. The golf tournament benefactors have been North Dallas Shared Ministry and the Metrocrest Social Service Center. Both agencies support citizens in North Dallas, Farmers Branch, Carrollton, Addison and Coppell with assistance for food, electric bills, clothes, rental assistance, school supplies and a medical clinic. The club is proud that we have much community support for these efforts.

The club also gives scholarships to graduating seniors each year as part of our on-going support of local high schools. Our club is very active in the community and sponsors scholarships for needy kids so they can participate in city recreational sports leagues.

The club is also active in the Meals-on-Wheels program to assist senior adults. A new program has been the annual Christmas Lights in the Park where Rotarians dress as Santa while citizens tour the City of Farmers Branch Christmas lights.

We are proud of our club and the significant community service projects it has undertaken in the past 16 years.

The Rotary Club of Farmersville

Chartered April 18, 1939

The Farmersville Rotary Club received its charter from Governor Hubert Johnson of the 128th District on April 18, 1939, in a ceremony held at the First Methodist Church of Farmersville. Sponsored by the Greenville Rotary Club, the new organization had nineteen members. B.C. (Dutch) Fielder was its first president and served as its secretary for many years afterward.

Other charter members included Lee Atkins, Oscar Carlisle, Clifford Carpenter, Raymond Cornes, F.M. Dyer, Jess E