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The Rotary Club of Webster Groves
A Brief
History
The Early
Years
Rotary was founded in 1905, and
nineteen years later the Club of Webster Groves was granted
its charter. The
objectives of Rotary continue to grow and adapt to social and
economic conditions.
The first motto of Rotary International "He profits
most who serves best" came from the convention at
Portland,
Oregon in 1911. The 4-Way Test was
from a later period.
However, as Rotary spread nationally and
internationally, Webster
Groves was a natural base for a
participating club.
The St. Louis Rotary Club (Club 11) recognized the
potential of Webster and sponsored the club.
If you have
ever participated in sponsoring a Rotary Club, you can imagine
how, in the late winter of 1923 and early 1924 members of the
St. Louis Club began their canvass for members. You can visualize how
the sponsoring members visited the garage, the bank,
drugstore, lumber company, gas and electric (where the
Reliable Life Insurance Company is now), the feed store, real
estate office, cleaners, the school district's
superintendent's office, and other local business and
professional men.
When a
sufficient number of potential members had signed for
membership, a charter was secured from Rotary International
(RI). The charter
night was February 17, 1924. Seventeen members were
inducted.
They were:
George J.
Bopp
Dudley Sanford
Dwight
Bradley
Henry Schulz
Wayne
Brown
William Stoecker
William A.
Gore
William A. Straub
Percy
Harrison
Arthur N. Trembley
Carl H.
Holekamp
Lyman
Warren
Charles E.
King
Dr. A.W. Westrup
E.H. Lewis
Edward F. Wilson
Minter C.
Moredock
Carl Holekamp was the first
president.
The Club was
duly elected member of Rotary International as its Club No.
1670 on March 15, 1924.
The St. Louis area was then District 14. The Club is the second
oldest Rotary club in the St.
Louis region (after St. Louis ) and
the oldest in St. Louis County.
If one were to
call the roll of the Charter Members by classifications, it
would depict a localism bordering on provincialism. Fellowship was great,
cordial, and sincere.
The men were truly
wonderful gentlemen: some would fall into categories of "most
unforgettable characters" -- Carl Holekamp, Doc Westrup,
Charles King, W.A. Straub, "Pop" Gore, and above all "Hank"
Schulz. However, their
localism was projected by residence, business address and
generally by territory served. Note the classifications:
automobile agency, railway station manager, lumber merchant,
banker, gas and electric (utility), feed grocer, credit union,
cleaning and pressing, physician, and real estate. These men were
bound together by community interests and functioned with zeal
and zest. They
were involved in promoting business, crippled children's
welfare and cultural opportunities. By 1926 they were
involved in buying band instruments for the high school and
furnishing uniforms for the band. The music interest was
a natural as Bill Gore was Superintendent of Schools and a
strident leader.
He was joined by Hans J. Lemcke, who was the band
director. The electric organ for the High School Choir was also a
Rotary project.
In 1926 the
Club sponsored its first Rotary club, the Rotary Club of
Maplewood. Over
the course of the years the Club would sponsor five other
clubs, including one in
Russia.
The localism we
have mentioned persisted until about 1944 when changing
urbanization conditions modified the eligibility of certain
occupations. For
example, St. Louis County Gas Company was absorbed by Union
Electric and the Gas by Laclede Gas Company. (St. Louis County Gas
Company had provided both.) Trains no longer
stopped often enough to need a Station Manager, and
supermarkets took over the grocery business. Government agencies
began to care for crippled children and to provide student
loans. Thus,
membership began to be drawn from wider areas of
occupation.
Renewed Purpose and Club
Extension
The interest in
student loans shifted to scholarship grant-in-aid. In 1947, after the
death of Rotary founder Paul Harris, the emphasis toward a
broader outlook on Rotary surfaced with increased emphasis on
contributions to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary
International.
However, at this time the
push was for Club, not individual contributions. In 1960, the
Club sponsored its second club, the Rotary Club of
Crestwood-Sunset Hills.
It was during that same Rotary year that the district
number changed to 605.
In 1969, the Club sponsored the Rotary Club of
Southwest St. Louis County. In the 1970s, a
new phase of emphasis took hold in the local Club objectives,
that of contributions to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) through
individual contributions. The renewed emphasis
in the objectives carries to the present with a focus on
yearly contributions to TRF by way of Paul Harris Fellowships,
a distinctive honor and a worthy purpose. Contributions to the
endowment fund of TRF are also encouraged, and those that make
a contribution or pledge to do so in an estate plan are
recognized as Foundation Benefactors. The Rotary Foundation is a
not-for-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary
International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural
exchange programs.
In 1989, the
Club sponsored its fourth club -- the Rotary Club of Mid-St.
Louis County, and it was during that time frame that the
district's number was changed by the addition of a zero to
become 6050.
District 6050s territory was the northeastern quadrant
of Missouri
. To celebrate
the Club's seventy-fifth anniversary, past district governor
Alan Hoener proposed that the Club sponsor a club in
Russia. The Club's board of
directors approved and Alan and Steve LaBarge carried the
project forward.
In May 1998, the Club sponsored its fifth Rotary club
and its first abroad; the Rotary Club of Aginskoye -- which is
located about one hundred miles north of the Russia-Mongolia
border in Siberia. The Buryat people inhabit the region. The
Alan
Hoener
Memorial
Garden was
dedicated to honor Past President and Past District Governor,
Alan J. Hoener.
Alan died in
Scotland
in June 1997 while attending the RI International
Convention. After
completing Alan's work with the chartering ceremonies of the
club in
Russia,
the Club decided to plant the memorial garden. Twenty-five Webster
Rotarians assembled in November 1998 to plant and mulch 9
trees, 89 shrubs, and 300 daylilies. The garden, at the
entrance to the
Aquatic
Center of the
Recreational Complex of Webster Memorial Park, was dedicated
in June 1999. A major
redistricting of the Missouri Rotary Districts took place in
2000. The state's
four districts became three. District 6050 was
revoked and a new one, District 6060-was created. The Club was assigned
to District 6060, which runs along the eastern border of
Missouri, from
Hannibal in the north down to the
southern border of
Missouri in the
"boot heel". The district contains
approximately 65 Rotary clubs and 3,000 Rotarians.
Early
Funds
Two of the early
funds established were the Crippled Children's Fund and the
Student Loan Fund, both of which were established in
1930. The records
indicate contributions to general campaigns such as the "Mile
of Dimes," funds for the blind, tuition for the handicapped,
and even to provide an artificial limb for an adult. While student loans
functioned thorough the 1930s and early 1940s, they have been
active throughout the years, and in 1972 funds were
contributed to several local colleges to be administered by
established educational institutions.
In 1940, Dr.
A.W. Westrup established the Industrial Fund to be used for
grants to young people wishing to enter a trade or non-college
vocation. This fund has helped mechanics and at least two nurses
to complete vocational preparation. College
scholarships were established in the 1950s to give grants in
aid to beginning college students. It was a supplement to
student loans. It
helped the beginning college student, while loans are made
(interest free) to junior or seniors in college. The Club increased the
amount awarded to each student to $1,600 in the middle 2000’s
– three deserving students are recognized each year. More than 200 students
have received aid since 1954.
Diversity in the
Club
Originally, the
Club was composed of men, mostly of German, Scottish, English,
Irish, and other Anglo-Saxon extraction, but throughout the
years, the composition of the Club changed. French and Italian
surnames started to appear in the roster. The wider membership
continued to expand.
In 1989 the board of directors of Rotary International
asked clubs to accept women. It did not take too
long for a woman to be invited into our Club. She was Nancy
Battersby, who joined the club in 1990.
Nancy also
became the first female president, when she served in
1998-99. Irene
Kalnins became the Club's first Latvian-born Rotarian in
1994. Also during
this decade, George Wang became the first Asian to join the
Club; he was born in
China. The 1990s also
saw the Club presided by its first Hispanic president; Guillo
Rodríguez, a native of
Puerto Rico, joined the club
in 1995 and became its president in 1999-2000. At the start of
the 2002-03 Rotary year and under the presidency of Luis
Ortiz, the Club welcomed its first African-Americans to its
ranks. They were Lee Moss and Ed Robinson. The Club has
also distinct representation of some of the world's religions.
The Club members profess many creeds, including Christianity
(Protestants, Catholics, etc.), and Judaism, among
others. All members respect each
other and believe that the diversity in the Club is an asset
upon which to build good relationships that translate into
good deeds for humanity.
Participation at RI
International Convention
In 1995, Alan
Hoener suggested to the club's board of director’s that, for
the benefit of the club, it should allocate a line item in the
club's budget to send the president-elect to the Rotary
International Convention each year. In 1996, Mike
Oppermann became the first president-elect to attend the RI
convention under the new guidelines; he attended the
convention held in Calgary,
Canada. Previous to that date
the Club had subsidized other presidents but on an ad-hoc
basis, as it did in 1952 when it assisted Bud Holekamp to
attend the RI international convention in
Mexico City. The Club continues
subsidizing part or all of the expenses associated with
attending RI’s international convention. In June 2005,
President-Elect Pat Welch attended the milestone celebration
of Rotary’s 100th anniversary in
Chicago.
Meeting
Places
The Club met for
many years at the Emmanuel Episcopal Church at Bompart and
Lockwood. When
that church underwent renovation, the Club moved to the
Christian Church on Bompart, but the room was of insufficient
size for the growing Club. For a short while, meetings were
held at the Methodist
Church on
Summit before
moving to the YMCA building on Lockwood. When the Y's kitchen
facilities were changed, the Club moved to its present
location: the Presbyterian Church at Lockwood and Gore. The meetings have always
started promptly at 12:10 p.m. and members regard the 1:30
p.m. dismissal time as sacred and return to their professions
and businesses re-energized, refreshed with fellowship and
ready to work.
Music and
Fellowship
Over the years,
the Club has been blessed with several fine musicians making
music an integral part of the program. It would not be the
Holiday Season without the high school choir's annual visit in
December. Hans
Lemcke brought many of his musical friends to perform in solo
and in groups.
Many times Al Booth, choir director for the
Presbyterian Church brought his soloists and a true love for
fine music to the Club. Following Al,
his son Lee continued the singing tradition of the club. In addition to always
singing Happy Birthday during the last meeting of each month
in honor of the Rotarians having birthdays that month the club
sings every chance it has. Excellent pianists,
such as Harold Lumley, who has played since 1993, have served
the club well. One song that has become the hit of the club is
Smile, Sing Along
by James O. Scott.
This song leaves
everyone smiling and enjoying unparalleled Rotary
fellowship. In the middle
1990s, the club started to be known as The Friendly Club. The great fellowship
and the grand disposition and humor of all Webster Rotarians
make our club one of the fun ones. A vivacious and
spirited group of Rotarians welcomes guests and makes them
feel at home. The feeling is
genuine.
Presidential Citation
Award
The Club has
earned the Presidential Citation of Rotary International
numerous times.
Each year, the incoming RI President selects several
requirements, often coinciding with the Four Avenues of
Service. The Club has responded well
to the challenge year after year.
SOME
TRADITIONS
The Club has
responded to changes as they come about in the economic,
political, and social scene. However, a few traditions are established and new ones
are at times being created.
Order of
Business
The order of
business of the meetings has followed a set format for many
years. The
meeting is called to order by the president at 12:10 p.m. and
is followed immediately by the Pledge of Allegiance to the
flag, which is succeeded by
America
by Samuel Francis Smith (My Country ‘Tis of Thee) and then the
invocation. The
prayer is said by a different member each meeting. A luncheon recess
follows this brief introduction. The sergeant-at-arms
opens the third part of the meeting by introducing the
visiting Rotarians and guests and entertains the club with
humor and trivia.
The president then takes
over and after the handling of any club business presents the
program committee chair for the month for the pertinent
introduction of the speaker or program.
Activities with Spouses
and Guests
For many years,
the Club has had two outstanding activities that feature
spouses and/or guests of Rotarians. The installation
dinner/banquet is one of those. At this event the new
president and board of directors are officially inducted. Usually held at a
country club or private club, the event is, at times,
highlighted by the presence of the district governor. The progressive dinner
is always a favorite of members. A reception and
cocktail hour at the home of a Rotarian is followed by dinner
at various homes and then by dessert at another home for
everyone again.
Since the late 1990’s the reception with appetizers and
cocktails have been held at Jack Pirozzi's residence and
dessert at Mike Keenoy's home. The progressive dinner is always on the first Saturday
in December, come rain, hail, sleet, snow or shine.
Rotary - Lions Golf
Tournament
Following a few
years of informal competition, the Webster Rotary vs. the
Webster Lions Golf Tournament was started in 1972. The "youngsters" of
Webster Lions challenged the "old men" of Rotary. Webb Rogers of Webster
Rotary donated the traveling trophy still doing the
rounds. Most
recently, the Rotarians have won more often, but nobody really
seems to care too much, well, except for a few very
competitive souls.
The fellowship between the two service organizations
has served well the community in general.
Bridge
Tournament
Nobody knows for
sure when the Webster Rotary started its Bridge Tournament,
but we believe that it was Webb Rogers who initiated it in the
late 1960s. It
started as auction bridge, instead of the contract bridge
played today.
Beautiful decks of Rotary cards are used and the game
is played at the residences of the players in a rotating
manner. The tournament generates a small cash amount for the
Club, although its objective is good fellowship.
Webster
Groves High
School Choir Holiday
Concert
For many years,
Webster Groves
High
School
students have performed in front of the Club during the
Holiday Season.
Many spouses attend the meeting for such fine occasion
and Rotarians and guests join the choir to sing seasonal music
ranging from Handel's Hallelujah to popular musical
compositions.
Club members make a
monetary contribution at the end of the fine performance
thereby ensuring that the musical tradition of the region
lives on.
Friendly
Fines
Fines and
assessments are a part of every club and can be fun, but it is
an old tradition that they never be excessive enough to
embarrass any member.
Fines are levied by the Sergeant-at-Arms for such
things as not having the Rotary pin, not knowing the answer to
some question or trivia about Rotary or other important
subject, and so on.
Rotarians are also fined if they are in the newspapers,
are heard on radio or seen on television; the major the
exposure the higher the fine the member is expected to pay –
in the 2000s Mike Keenoy has been featured in a number of the
St. Louis Rams television commercial and that has made him a
major fine payee.
All proceeds from these "penalties" are donated to The
Rotary Foundation.
The amount usually exceeds $1,000 each year.
Happy Bucks and
50-50
These are new
traditions started in the middle to late 1990s. The Happy Bucks were
introduced after the success experienced by the Clayton Rotary
Club. For the
cost of one dollar (one buck) Rotarians and/or guests can
stand up and make an announcement to the Club. Most of these relate
to additions to the family, graduations, promotions and other
"good news." Most
Rotarians announce their news succinctly, but some go for
longer periods, and these contribute more than the one buck,
based on the time they take to give their message. Such is the case of
Werner Bauer, a Pearl Harbor survivor who has
enjoyed addressing the Club for various reasons. Collected
funds are forwarded to The Rotary Foundation. The 50-50
involves a drawing at the end of each meeting. Each attendee may
"buy" numbered tickets for the chance to "win" 50 percent of
what is "sold."
The day's speaker randomly selects a ticket
corresponding to someone. The Club retains the
remaining 50 percent, which it sends to The Rotary
Foundation.
This is another fun and inexpensive way to raise money
for The Foundation.
During the 2000s, the amount generated by happy bucks
and 50-50 have exceeded $1,000 every year.
The Club and the
Inter-City Meeting
Since 1958,
Inter-City has promoted, on a monthly basis, Rotary fellowship
among the clubs within a reasonable driving distance in the
St. Louis
region. All
Rotarians have an organized opportunity to visit host clubs
and to discover old/new friends and make-up locations—a
special fun time even with a bit of nonsense. The Club has won the
"Most Attending" and "Highest Percentage" traveling trophies
many times.
Recent
Inter-City meetings hosted by
the Club have had noted columnist Bill McClellan and Rotarian
Richard Meyers of
Webster
University as
the keynote speakers.
St.
Louis Cardinals
Update
Since the late
1980s or early 1990s it has been a tradition at the Club to
talk baseball in early spring with Marty Hendin,
vice-president of community relations for the St. Louis
Cardinals. His is one of the most entertaining programs and
one that is a favorite of so many Rotarians. Hendin knows baseball
well, is an expert on the Cardinals and delivers an amusing
program.
COMMUNITY
SERVICE
The Club
membership has responded to many national and international
interests.
Domestically, they have varied from assisting in
selling U.S. Bonds during World War II, assisting in gas
rationing, and organizing civil defense classes in time of
crisis to contributing resources to the American Red
Cross.
Youth
Programs
A long
established Community Service tradition is encouraging and
helping youth. Interest in Youth has always been a project of
the Club. Support
of youth to the Model Legislature program sponsored by the
YMCA has drawn financial support for the local
participants.
Also, support has been provided for inner-city youth to
attend the "Young America" Camp
Assembly in
Colorado.
For many years,
the Club has invited local high school juniors and seniors to
go to Jefferson City for one day to learn about state
government. A
Rotarian chaperone provides transportation to and from
Jefferson City for
the students.
The Jefferson
City Rotary Club has hosted the Student Government Day since
1955. The
schedule usually includes tour of the
Capitol
Building ,
visit to the Senate and House of Representatives chambers and
to the Supreme Court. Established in
the 1950s, the Club continues to provide scholarships to our
youth. Most
recently, the club has been awarding grants of $1,200 to three
deserving high school students from our territory or attending
area high schools, such as Webster
Groves High
School and Nerinx Hall
Summer camps and School Camps have been provided for a number
of needy children throughout the years.
Community Assistance and
Volunteerism
Community
projects have included Talking Tapes (tapes for the blind
and/or vision impaired), participation in planting along I-44,
contributions to the
Day
Career
Center, Edgewood Children's
Center,
Epworth
Children & Family
Center
, and the YMCA. It has become a
custom for the president to choose a project each year to
which the Club makes a contribution. Usually this has been a
$1,000 allotment, although in many cases it has been more
according to the needs. Some of these projects have been
the "Senior Citizen's Corner" at Memorial Park, the Lockwood
School Area Park, the lighting at Memorial Park, flag poles at
the Webster Groves Recreation Complex, the Blackburn Park
Pavilion the Eden Theological Seminary library, contributions
to the YMCA capital campaign and to the YMCA disabled access
program for the youth. The
Community
Service Avenue saw a heightened increase in
activity when in October 1999 the club sponsored the first
"Make a Difference Day" in Webster
Groves. Emmy McClelland
brought the project to the attention of the Club when she was
a Missouri State Representative. The event was the
catalyst that witnessed a level of volunteerism and
partnership among civic and service clubs never before seen in
the community.
The Missouri State Legislature has officially
recognized the Club for its vision and leadership with this
project. The Club continues to be a major sponsor of the
event. To celebrate
Rotary’s 100 anniversary, the Club, under the leadership of
President Mark Krueger, donated a fire ring to the City of
Webster
Groves. It was installed at
Larson
Park and many
Rotarians attended its first official use: a barbeque.
TRF Supports Community
Projects
The Community
Assistance Program (CAP) was adopted by the Trustees of The
Rotary Foundation (TRF) at their April 2000 meeting to provide
an opportunity for Rotarians to use District Designated Funds
(DDF) to undertake projects in their own communities or within
their nation.
Guillermo (Guillo) Rodríguez, District 6060 assistant
governor for 2001-02 and member of this Club, presented the
changes to the club's board of directors. The Club, under the
presidency of Phil Brooke, submitted an application and was
one of the first clubs in the District (year 2001-02) to
receive a $1,000 grant to provide two BBQ pits for
Blackburn
Park in
Webster
Groves. The barbecue pits were part
of major renovations at the park, which was rededicated on
April 5, 2003. The Webster
Groves Lions Club challenged the Rotary Club to a horseshoe
tournament. The
tourney was held during the rededication of
Blackburn
Park. The Lions won the
tournament.
During that day, both Lions and Rotarians provided
hotdogs, chips and beverages to the attendees. The joint community
service project was a success and generated a good amount of
positive press for the clubs. Mike Oppermann coordinated our club's
participation.
INTERNATIONAL
SERVICE
The Club
membership has also responded to many international
interests. They
vary from bringing the first foreign exchange student to the
community through the American Field Service, aid to a village
in India through a
special appeal, assisting with relief funds for international
disasters in the Caribbean and Central America, and so on. Specific examples
include the furnishing of funds to a community in the
Philippines
to establish a pottery factory; a club member and former
missionary to this community furnished a strong personal
tie. Other
contributions have help fund the Wings of Hope project to
provide airplanes for humanitarian purposes in
Belize and
Honduras.
Recent International
Projects
During 1999-2000
the club sponsored a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant project
with the Quilmes-Oeste Club in
Argentina. The $8,000 project
provided medical equipment to an ambulatory hospital in the
Buenos
Aires
suburb. This was
the first time the club had its own matching grant project, as
far as anybody can remember. In 2001-02 the Club
participated in a district sponsored grant to provide eye
cataract surgeries, as part of the Avoidable Blindness
Initiative. More
than 65 surgeries were sponsored by the Club in southern
India
thus becoming a 100% supporter, i.e. at least one eye surgery
sponsorship for every member of the club. In 2004-05 the Club
once again sponsored a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant
project in
Argentina,
this time with the Berazategui Rotary Club to provide medical
and hospital equipment to attend diabetic patients in a very
poor section of Greater Buenos Aires; the roject cost was
$6,300.
International Youth
Exchange
The Youth
Exchange Program has been one of the most successful
international projects of the club. Each year, the club
arranges international Youth Exchanges of long term duration
(one academic year) for high school-aged students. A primary goal of the
program is to foster world understanding by way of
intercultural exchange.
Youth Exchange
began for District 6050 in 1985. District governor H.
Middleton asked Webster's PDG Alan Hoener to begin a district
committee. Alan
asked Webster's Jack LaBarge to serve on the committee and to
place the first student taken by the committee. Jack accepted
and placed the student in Webster
Groves.
Webster
Groves was the first host club for the
district. Jack
served on the committee from its inception. Steve LaBarge
participated soon after the inception of the committee and
initially assisted Howard Schwadron as inbound coordinator and
then assumed that role until 1992. Alan chaired the
committee until 1989.
Jack LaBarge did outbound students from committee
inception through June of 1992 and chaired the committee 1989
to 1992. Steve
chaired from 1992 to 1994. Steve re-assumed the
chairman position in the late 1990s. He was followed by
Irene Kalnins in the early 2000s.
Since 1985
Webster
Groves has
hosted one or two exchange students every year (three students
were hosted once) and have participated in the hosting of
students on youth exchange tours. The Club has also
sponsored many outbound students. A fun fact of youth
exchange is that two students who met through the district
program, one from Webster Groves, subsequently married; Alan and
Willie Hoener, Steve and Cathy LaBarge, and Mary and Jack
LaBarge were all at their wedding. For about 7 or 8 years,
Mary and Jack LaBarge hosted a Christmas party at their house
for exchange students.
The boys spent the night at their house and the girls
stayed at Steve and Cathy LaBarge's. Usually some outbound
exchange alumni attended. The Club has
sent numerous American youth abroad as well as received many
students from all over the world. The Club has received
kids from Germany,
Mexico, the
Netherlands, the
Philippines,
Russia,
Thailand,
Brazil,
Latvia, and
Turkey
in 2005-06, among others. In 2001-02 the Club
hosted a male student from
China and a female
from
Colombia. Both were the first
students that came to Webster
Groves without the Club sending a
student to those countries. At the time, Rotary
does not operate in
China
because of that country's political views. With
Colombia
the concern about safety and security prevents the Club from
sending students.
The Club accepted these non-traditional "exchanges" in
an effort to help youth from this countries experience life in
America. In early 2000,
the Club participated in short-term (two to three months in
duration) exchanges for visually impaired and/or blind
kids. This has
been done in coordination with the
Missouri
School for the
Blind. The
initial exchanges were made with
Argentina,
but other countries may soon be involved. Youth exchange has a
great history in Webster
Groves.
Ambassadorial
Scholarships and Other
The Club has also been diligent with The Rotary
Foundation's oldest and best-known program, the Ambassadorial
Scholarships, the world's largest privately funded
international scholarships program. The purpose of the
Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international
understanding and friendly relations among people of different
countries. The Club has
sponsored and hosted men and women to study abroad. Most recently, in
1997-98, the Club sponsored an American scholar to
McGill
University in
Montreal,
Canada, and has
welcome students from
Korea and
Japan,
among others. Werner Bauer has acted as counselor for inbound
scholars. In the early 1980s Pete Crump was counselor for
inbound scholar Merv Hyde from
Australia; he studied
at the Central Institute for the Deaf and lived in
Webster
Groves. The Club had a
young Russian girl participate in the Youth Exchange Program
during the academic year 1997-98. Following the
exchange, she returned to her country with the desire to come
back to the States to attend a university. The Club, in
conjunction with other clubs and various individuals, provided
the Russian student with scholarship funds. Although not an
ambassadorial scholarship, the Russian scholar represented
well her country while at
Truman
State
University in
Kirksville,
Missouri. The Club's Rotary Charities not-for-profit charitable
corporation partly funds Kate Smorodkina's university
career.
Group Study
Exchange
The Club has been
active sponsoring and hosting Group Study Exchange team
members. Since
its inception in 1965, The Rotary Foundation's Group Study
Exchange (GSE) program has provided grants for countless teams
of men and women in the early stages of their business and
professional careers to travel abroad and share vocational
information with the representatives of their respective
professions in another country. The program's ultimate
goal is promoting international understanding and
goodwill.
T
he first
Rotarian GSE leader from our club was Alan Hoener; he led a
GSE team to Africa in 1982-83. Club members that have
been team members are Jean Magre who went to Africa
(Kenya and
Tanzania in the east,
Zambia in the south,
and the islands of
Mauritius and Reunion
in the Indian Ocean east of
Madagascar) in 1983,
and Mike Oppermann who went to
Belgium
in 1985. Magre and Oppermann joined
the Club after their trip and eventually became presidents of
the Club. Most recently,
the Club has sponsored team members to
Brazil
(1998), South
Africa (2003), and
Bolivia
(2005). The Club has
hosted GSE teams from
Italy (twice)
South
Korea,
India (twice),
Norway,
Brazil (twice),
Argentina,
England,
Denmark,
South
Africa,
Bolivia and the
Philippines,
among others. The most recent GSE teams hosted by our Club
have been: Brazil
(April 2001); South
Africa (April 2003);
Italy (April 2004);
Bolivia (May 2005);
the
Philippines
(October 2005).
Open World
Program
In May 2003, the
Club hosted a group of Russians sponsored by the Open World
Program. The
program is operated by the Center for Russian Leadership
Development at the U.S. Library of Congress, and is a special
program available to Rotary clubs in the
United
States. Five Russian civic
leaders were welcomed into our community. The Club developed an
"economic development program", which is one of the eight
civic themes approved by the Open World Program. The other themes are
education, environment, federalism, health, rule of law, women
as leaders, and youth issues. Jack LaBarge and John
Dougherty coordinated the delegation's visit to the
St. Louis
region;
various members shared their homes and hospitality with our
Russians guests.
VOCATIONAL
SERVICE
The Career Day
event at our club is one of those traditions that continue to
be meaningful to our youth. The day is part of the
club's effort under the Vocational Service
Avenue. This avenue focuses on
the opportunity that Rotarians have to represent their
professions as well as their efforts to promote vocational
awareness and high ethical standards in business. Our club has
concentrated on offering career guidance to high school
students. Mike Keenoy spearheaded the program in the 1990s and
Dan Moore has done it in the 2000s. The Club has
always promoted high ethical standards in the workplace, which
has been a central theme of Rotary throughout its
history. The values are expressed in the 4-Way Test and the
"Declaration for Rotarians in Businesses and
Professions."
FUND
RAISING
The early fund
raising was done through "White Elephant" sales, and records
indicate that events raised increasing amounts. One of the early sales
brought in only $113 while some of the better ones yielded
about $600. Where
there was a community interest directly involved, our townsmen
in the St. Louis Club came for "make-ups" and to make up
needed funds.
This was especially true in the campaign for the organ
for the A Capella Choir.
Between the era of the "White Elephant" and other
methods of fund raising came the Fruit Cake Sales. This was in vogue for about
three years in the early 1950s but was more work than the
proceeds warranted. The Pancake
Festival was begun in the fall of 1958 and has been continued
ever since. It
has been a chief supporter of scholarships and loan funds for
students and other service projects and has netted varying
amounts from $700 to $7,000 annually. The festival, which
includes lunch and dinner services, was held for many years at
the Congregational Church at Lockwood and Elm, but in 1999 was
moved to the Webster
Hills
United
Methodist
Church
Parish
Center at Lockwood
and Berry
Road. For many years, Jack
Swanson, Bob Smutz, and Bob Graham spearheaded this sweet and
tasty fund-raiser. Frank Bloemke took the helm,
or shall we say the spatula, during the 2000s. Tropical fruits
are always welcome in winter. The club has for many
years sponsored a fruit sale fundraiser.
Oranges and grapefruits are
brought in from Florida or
California to
satisfy the demand for the "taste of the tropics" during the
cold days of December.
The fruit sales net between
$1000 and $2000 per year. The “Rotary 18
Way Test” was started in 1995, under the leadership of a group
piloted by Mike Keenoy, as a gold fundraiser and includes a
dinner and auction.
Everyone pitches in. Not everyone plays,
however. Some
sell golfing slots, others sell ads and sponsorships, others
take care of logistics during the tournament, a few provide
items for the lively auction, and others just enjoy the
scenery and fellowship during the tourney. The Rotary 18-Way Test
Tournament, always held during the spring, has been played at
the following courses: Cherry Hills, Spencer T. Olin Golf
Course, The Legends, and Pevely Farms. The golf tournament has
been one of the largest fundraisers and has averaged $5,000 to
$7,000 per year rivaling the Pancake Festival.
OUTSTANDING ROTARIAN
From time to
time, the Club recognized those members that dedicated
themselves to service and did an exemplary job, but proper
records were lost.
The District, under the leadership of DG Terry Brown,
began recognizing distinguished Rotarians at its district
conference, therefore, the Club re-instituted the practice of
electing one of its members as its Outstanding Rotarian under
the presidency of Wilson bell.
The recent list
is as follows:
Bob Smutz
2000-01
Warren
Druschky
2001-02
Mike
Oppermann
2002-03
Werner
Bauer
2005-06
FATHER & SON
AND BROTHERS TANDEMS
Fathers and
sons in this Club are interesting to contemplate. Only the Holekamp
surname has been on the club’s roster since the club’s
founding and charter day in 1924. Carl H. Holekamp, the
first president, was joined by Carl Junior, known as Bud, when
he joined the family business. Two long-standing
names were Westrup and Booth. Dr. A.W. Westrup of
1924 was joined by Dr. E.A. Westrup in 1938—the younger
Westrup passed away in 1999. Soon after the
organization of the Club, Alfred L. Booth became a member and
served later with A. Lee Booth, Jr.—Lee moved away from
Missouri in
2000. All of
these gentlemen were also president of the Club.
Other father and son pairs along the line
of time, some serving simultaneously, are:
R.W.
Halteman and Dick
Lars
Christopherson and Les
Leonard
Martin and Leonard, Jr.
A.N.
Trembley and Art
W.A.
Straub and Jack
John C.
Cerny and John
Don
Shumate and sons
Harry S.
“Van” Vandergriff and Richard
William
(Bill) Copeland and Doug
Bill
Lange and William
Harold
Lumley and Cotter
Jere and Steven Dorough
At least one
pair of brothers in our Club is worth mentioning. These are the
LaBarge. Steve
LaBarge joined the Club in 1974 and his brother Jack LaBarge
joined the Club in 1976.
Both have been president of the Club.
OFFICERS:
DISTRICT AND R.I.
The Club has
furnished three District Governors. They have been E.L.
Detering (1964-65, District 6050), Don Shumate (1968-69,
District 6050), and Alan Hoener (1978-79, District 6050). It seems unlikely that many clubs have had both a
District Governor and a member of the Board of Rotary
International serving in the same year, as in the case of Alan
Hoener (DG) and E.L. Detering (RI Director) in 1978-79.
In the late
1990s the District was reorganized and named 6060. In 2000, a new
District’s Leadership Plan was enacted creating the position
of Assistant District Governor. Guillermo (Guillo)
Rodríguez became the first Rotarian from our club to serve in
that capacity. He did so in the year
2001-02. Previous to
2000, the Club had provided numerous District Governor
Representatives such as Mike Keenoy, and Guillo Rodríguez
among others.
Jack LaBarge served as what was then called Associate
District Governor from 1996 to 1998. A number of
Club members have presided over district committees as
well. Steve
LaBarge served as chairman of the Youth Exchange Committee for
many years in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Irene
Kalnins began serving as chair of District 6060 Outbound Youth Exchange
Students in 2002-03.
_____
Revised May
2006 GAR
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