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The Win the War Convention
Attendance rose by over 50% at the Convention with 4,034 individuals
registered for the Convention and 367 clubs represented. Membership
growth had risen by over 6,200 in the last year. The largest attendance
in Kansas City occurred when
Sir Harry Lauder entertained potential new
Rotarians in a crowd of some 13,000.
President Leslie Pidgeon, the first non-U. S. President, in a
wonderfully crafted speech addressed the convention on "Rotary as a
living force".
Paul Harris did not attend but (yet again)
sent his message. Almost
always, secretary Chesley Perry read it out to the Convention. Harris
told delegates that there were 3 very available ways for Rotary to
project its influence out into the non-Rotarian world. Firstly, by the
elimination of all except general interest matter from the columns of
'The Rotarian', making of it a messenger of service and by the adoption
of the usual means of increasing its circulation among magazine readers
in general. Secondly, by the development of the vocational section plan
to a point of real efficiency. Thirdly, by holding club meetings to
which the public are invited.
Harris concluded his address by writing, "If it is to be the part of
Rotary to educate the individual, then in very truth it may be said that
Rotarians shall be leaders of men".
The war
tones echoed throughout the Convention, often described as the War
Convention. Under the title of "Men who are making the world safe for
Democracy", the jingoistic language, perhaps understandably, became more
evident.
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Here's an
extract from Past President Mulholland's speech- "We and our allies are
fighting the Hun. We are fighting the worst enemy that ever stalked down
on helpless women and subjected them to the abuses of half crazed
savages. We are fighting the worst enemy that ever cut off the hands of
little children, mutilated prisoners of war and murdered civilians".
 President
Woodrow Wilson sent Secretary Perry a letter in which he paid tribute
to Rotary's war time service. "The service rendered by your
organization in this time of national stress has been very great".
The Secretary of War also paid tribute to Rotary's "assistance and
co-operation…made necessary by the war…"
Rotarians also endorsed the idea of meditating and praying at 11 am each
day for the success of the Allies in the war!
The Rotary Endowment Fund stood at $56.50 in the bank with Interest
gained of $1.29 giving a total as at 30th June 1918 of a massive $57.79!
Other important events at Kansas City saw a discussion on the idea of
more than one Rotary Club in a city. New York was allowed to become the
exception to the rule in the U.S with a club for each of its five
boroughs.
Another important development saw Rotary fighting in the courts with the
Rotary Shirt Company of New York over the Rotary emblem. The
International Association would win the case in 1919.
Calum Thomson |
