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A History by Marcus Crotts
Complete file
with other histories in PDF
Forty Years of IFFR
Marcus Crotts reminisces
The International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians (IFFR)
was organized in Seattle, WA, USA. on January 1, 1965,
through the efforts of E. Edison Kennell -- IFFR #1.
The World Fellowship Activities Committee approved the
application on February 23, 1965. The World Fellowship
Activities Committee was the official body approving
World Fellowship Activities including both Recreational
& Vocational Fellowships.
Each year, since this Fellowship was organized, a directory
of all IFFR members was published along with the Rotary
Club affiliation and the Club's meeting day. The cross
country pilot, with the IFFR directory in his cockpit, has
virtually 1,500 additional flight service stations at his
disposal, and many lasting friendships which have begun
through IFFR. I did not join IFFR until 1968. Fly-Ins were
held virtually all over the world and IFFR members
provided many Rotary services.
In 1970, Victor C. Bracher of Houston, TX conducted a
"Bridge the Gap Tour" to Central America which turned
out to be a very exciting and beneficial event. The utility
of IFFR was shown by flying R.I. President Bill Carter of
Berkshire, England, his wife and daughter in private aircraft
on an 11 state tour in 1975. Rotary Director, Jim Lambeth
from Thomasville, NC, USA, and I organized the trip which
was accomplished only by private aircraft. No other form
of transportation including commercial airlines, auto,
train or bus could have maintained the schedule with
frequently three Rotary meetings with the Rotary
International President a day.
Bill Carter often commented to me that this was the most
exciting and memorable event during his term as
president. Herb Pigman, a private pilot, assumed the position of
general secretary of Rotary International on January 1,
1979 and joined IFFR. At that time, Rotary International
President James L. Bomar of Shelbyville, TN, USA, who
was also a private pilot, joined IFFR. |
Herb Pigman flew
a Cessna 172 Sky Hawk and Jim Bomar had a Comanche
260.
In 1980, IFFR in cooperation with the Yachting Rotarians
and the Caravanning Rotarians held an "Air-Land-Sea"
rendezvous in Chicago, IL, USA in conjunction with the
Rotary International's 75th Convention at McCormick
Place, Meigs Airport and The Chicago Yacht Club. I. R.
President, Jim Bomar, and myself arranged this function.
Even in the early days of
our Fellowship, numerous IFFR
members travelled virtually all over the world attending
Rotary meetings and conducting service projects.
At many of the Rotary International Annual Conventions,
we would conduct our IFFR General Meeting at the home
of an IFFR member or an IFFR officer. I attended the
one in Houston, TX in 1972 when all IFFR members
attending the Annual Meeting visited the home of Vic
Bracher and had a marvellous time. I also attended the
meeting when Ern Dawes had a nice function at his
home in Melbourne, Australia.
In 1987, seven general aviation aircraft flew from the
USA to the Rotary International Convention in Munich,
Germany. In route, the convoy stopped at Jersey Island
to visit our IFFR chairman, Charles Strasser.
IFFR has had a rich history of service and fellowship and has
served
Rotary in so many different ways. From the very beginning,
service
was always a prime consideration of the activities of our Flying
Rotarians. When I look at the overall history of IFFR and the
activities they conduct at the Rotary International Convention,
it
appears to me that IFFR and the Yachting Rotarians have the best
organized fellowships and the most activity at our booths at the
International Convention. Both of these fellowships could use
considerably more room to accommodate our members and interested
people in the Fellowships Flying and Yachting.
Marcus B. Crotts
Complete file
with other histories in PDF
Provided by Feroz Wadia
World President
International Fellowship of
Flying Rotarians 2008-2010
Posted by Jack Selway 9 September 2008 |
