Club History
In the beginning the King had gone and we had a new King and a new Service Club in the town. A meeting was held in the Market Room of the White Hart Coaching Inn central Spalding. The Year ? 1937 – 33 years after Rotary formation in Chicago.
Led by the four first Presidents, two Lawyers, a vet and church minister. Men of Service to the community (Rev Herbert Burn served Spalding for 30 years). Adolph Hitler forced them to abandon initial Club and to reform in1952 under Rotarian Bill Start.
Clubs abroad in Rotary 1953 Spalding group went to Fontainbleu Paris for R I Convention, 1970 ‘s exchange with New York State – we filled a Boeing 707. 1980‘s exchange with Sioux Falls USA and later Palermo, Sicily. We have been presented with 400 Club Banners indicating over 1000 guests to Spalding Club .
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL has 30,000 Clubs in the world to visit.
Rotary Foundation (formed initially 1917 by Arch Klump, is 5th biggest charity in the world. It funds Rotary Scholars to study at universities. The fund supports Club projects often with a “matching grant” which doubles the amount given by Club or Clubs – often in the third world where their local Rotary Club(s) administer the work and ensure correct application and honesty.
Prince Philip said of Rotary: “The sheer size of Rotary is impressive. Over one million Members in 160 countries are awesome statistics, but they really mean nothing at all unless the Members are inspired by Rotary’s challenging philosophy – simply “Service above self ”
Prince Philip also said of Rotary:
“The significance of Rotary is that it has become one of the most active and effective forces on the lay side of righteousness, cooperation and goodwill.
Texas 1979 – Rotarians took Salk Polio Vaccine across the border to Mexico, so began “POLIO PLUS”. By 1983 World Health Org. had joined Rotary and worldwide vaccination had begun. 1.2 million Rotarians transported and put feet on the ground of 160 countries to change 1000 Polio cases per DAY to 3 to 4 per month wordwide. Rotary personel distribute vaccine and Rotary money has attracted a two for one top up from Bill Gates. Rotary “Polio Plus” – our legacy to mankind.
Rotary Histories 27 the Sept 2024 J. Syson
