A Brief History of the Owensboro Rotary Club
February 23, 1905
A small group of Chicago businessmen, led by attorney Paul Harris, formed a club to discuss important business and political issues and promote good will and fellowship to members of the business community. The club meetings rotated: each member serving as a chairman and holding meetings at his business establishment. The name Rotary derives from this unique meeting arrangement. By 1910, sixteen clubs constituted the National Association of Rotary in the United States with a branch in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The following year, Rotary extended to London and Belfast.
In 1915, Rotary began in Owensboro, Kentucky.
April 1915
A group of Owensboro businessmen, calling themselves the "Live
Wires," investigated formation of an Owensboro Rotary
Club. The population of Owensboro at the time was under 20,000.
Although the International Association of Rotary had reservations about the
ability of a club to thrive in a city of less than 25,000, they decided to
experiment with the Owensboro club, calling it "The Baby." They instructed the Louisville Rotary Club to sponsor the Owensboro Club since both
cities were in the same district. The Evansville Rotary Club also
participated in sponsorship, providing guidance to their Kentucky neighbors.
September 1, 1915
The Rotary Club of Evansville and the Rotary Club of Louisville chartered the
Owensboro Rotary Club. The new club inducted 33 charter members and
elected
the following officers: President - Edward W. Smith; Vice President -
Charles E. Hugger; Secretary - E. R. Southard; Treasurer - A. B.
McCarthy.
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During its formative years, Owensboro Rotary took on its first service projects, helping underwrite the Associated Charities (later the Welfare League) and helping Daviess County meet its Liberty Bond quota during World War I.
February 23-23, 1917
Owensboro Rotary hosted the District Conference for the 6th District (then
Arkansas,
Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee).
Owensboro Rotary Club
1922
1920's and 1930's
Owensboro Rotary became involved with the Crippled Children's Project.
For many years, helping handicapped children remained a major service project for
the Owensboro club.
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1961
Owensboro Rotary joined other Kentucky Rotary Clubs and the Kentucky Society for
Crippled Children in building Camp KYSOC near Carrollton, Kentucky.
1973-1975
Owensboro Rotary and other Kentucky Rotary Clubs built Camp Green Shores, a
second handicapped children's camp, near Rough River in western Kentucky.
Early
1980's
Owensboro Rotary adopted the Hospice House and helped make a dream become a reality.
May 31, 1988
The Owensboro Breakfast Provisional Rotary Club, sponsored by the Owensboro
Rotary Club, elected its first officers. The club was officially chartered
as the Owensboro Breakfast Rotary Club with 35 members in July 1988.
July 6, 1988
The Owensboro Rotary Club inducted its first women members: Sister Ruth Gehres,
President of Brescia College; Alma Randolph, Owensboro Human Relations
Commission; and Donna Anderson, Director of the Mary Kendall Home.
Fundraising... |
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1994
Owensboro Rotary partnered with the Hager Educational Foundation to support
Readifest, a program that celebrates the opening of school and helps K-8th grade
students prepare for the school year.
2005
The Owensboro Rotary PlayZeum opened it's
doors to area children and families. This facility, located within the Owensboro Area Museum of Science and History,
provides children, their parents, grandparents or caregivers a place to play
when inclement weather would otherwise keep them indoors.
Over 90 years of
service to others...
The Owensboro Rotary Club
continues to foster the ideal of service by undertaking activities to improve
the quality of life in our community and beyond. Visit the "Projects" page to find out more about our current activities.