(From Matts O. Ingemanson

Fellow Rotarians,

I am writing this newsletter at the Rotary Convention in Chicago. Part of it is written in our booth number 434 in the House of Friendship. A Rotary Convention is a special place, because there are so many Rotarians together at the same time, it feels like the energy in the air is elevated. The place feels very safe, friendly and tolerant. It feels very different from other types of conventions. It is a difference that makes me feel that the world would be a much better place if we had more Rotarians in it.

During the Rotary Convention, I have met many very interesting Rotarians from around the world. They come to our booth to tell us how much they like our weekly newsletters with the “What Paul Harris Wrote” quotes.

I have also met many people with interesting information about Rotary Global History. One of those is Robina Quale-Leach from Albion, MI.

Robina told me that when she was a child she knew Paul Harris. Paul and Jean spent their summers in Onekama, MI, which is on the same latitude as Green Bay in Wisconsin. Her parents and Robina used to be invited to dinner with Paul and Jean Harris two or three times every summer. Robina’s best memory of Paul Harris was from 1943, when she was only 12 years old. Paul Harris then told her that he looked forward to the end of World War Two, so that Rotary could revive in Germany, Italy and Japan. Paul Harris also said that he wanted Rotarians around the world to work together to build a lasting peace.

Robina Quale-Leach together with Rotary Global History Chairman Matts Ingemanson

Robina also told me that Paul Harris unsuccessfully tried to enroll her father into Rotary. Little did he know that he instead convinced Robina to join Rotary. She became a Rotarian in 1990, shortly after Rotary started to admit women.

 

I think that one explanation for the fast growth of Rotary was that Paul Harris (and other Rotarians) always tried to enroll new people into Rotary.  

Rotary International Past President Herb Taylor [also the 50th anniversary president of RI] created the 4-Way Test, which Rotarians around the world use every day. I said in a speech during the Rotary Convention that I believed the 4-Way Test came to Herb Taylor as a response to his prayer for help. Some people would say that the 4-Way Test was God given for Herb Taylor and other Rotarians to use.

Two days later, I met Herb Taylor’s Grandson Al Mathis in our booth number 434. Al is a Rotarian from Childersburg, Alabama. He told me that his Grandfather viewed the 4-Way Test as the answer by God to his prayers and he that wanted other Rotarians to benefit from it as well. Al is also the President of the 4-Way Test Association. 

RI Past President Herb Taylor’s Grandson Al Mathis (middle) together with Rotary Global History’s Chairman Matts Ingemanson (left) and Director Cal Thompson (right)

 

Jim Alden is a Rotarian, who has worked for many years to preserve Paul & Jean Harris’ home Comely Bank (located in Chicago). Paul Harris named it "Comely Bank" after the Edinburgh, Scotland Street where his wife Jean grew up.

Last week on June 16^th, 2005, Jim Alden’s dreams came true, when Rotary International President Glenn Estess, RI Past President Luis Vincente Giay, and RI Past President Frank Devlyn and RI President Nominee Bill Boyd together with many Rotary International Directors attended the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to open Comely Bank as a museum.  

Ribbon cutting Ceremony at Comely Bank, from left to right Jim Alden together with 2004 Rotary International Centennial President Glenn Estess, 1996 RI President Luis Vincente Giay, 2006 RI President and 2000 RI President Frank Devlyn.

 Because Rotary Global History is Internet based with members from all over the world, our Board of Directors is also spread around the world. At our History Fellowship Breakfast Meeting on June 18^th, 2005 during the Rotary Convention, seven of our ten Directors had a chance to be together in the same room as you can see at this photo: 

From left to right, Rotary Global History Directors Eddie Blender, Cal Thompson, Helen Reisler and Don Murphy, Treasurer Geri Apple, Matts Ingemanson, Vice Chairman, The Global History Fellowship and Director (Secretary/Treasurer Emeritus) Dick McKay.

 

Let’s Celebrate Rotary

and its Future!

 

 Matts Ingemanson, Vice Chairman, The Global History Fellowship

Chairman

Rotary Global History

From the 20 June newsletter, publicly distributed