THE ROTARY CLUB OF
TRAVERSE CITY
  The Rotary Club of Traverse City, Michigan, was founded in 1920 and
3 years after its chartering, it set out to give service to its
community by buying land for community camps, but nobody could
foresee where this 'good deed' would lead. At an eventual total cost
of $33,500, some 480 acres were bought for a camp site to be used in
turn by 4-H, the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts . These were leased
to the Scouts at a nominal charge of $1 per annum. In 1956 a further
393 acres were acquired.
There was nothing untoward to report until 1967 when evidence of oil
and gas were discovered in the neighbourhood. A few years later in
1976, an oil well began production on one site and in 1979 a second
well was opened up. Further wells were planned so that by 1981,
because the club had reserved to themselves the mineral rights, over
$1,650,000 of revenue had accrued. Finally, six wells were
developed.
 In 1977, it was decided that there should be two tax exempt organisations, one of which would hold title to the land, and the
other would receive and administer the revenue. This latter, Rotary
Charities of Traverse City, had over $40 million in its fund in 2000
and this money was and still is used to make generous donations to
many local projects as well as to Rotary Foundation. For further
details, readers should look at the website of the Rotary Charities
of Traverse City, or read 'To Whom Much Is Given' by Ronald Sondee,
a fascinating account of the Club's activities from 1920-2000. A
further account appeared in 'The Rotarian' in January 1981.
RGHF Senior Historian
Basil Lewis with thanks to President Ron Sondee and Secretary Bob Yeiter
of the Traverse City RC |
