THE ROTARY CLUB OF CANTON...A CENTURY OF SERVICE....1915-2015 - PART 13

 

Our club had about 320 members during this year. To promote sponsoring new members, we encouraged current members to invite prospective members to attend our weekly meetings as guests.

 

Our average attendance was between 85 and 88%. Good attendance was promoted through fellowship, camaraderie and programs of local, national and international interest.

 

Weekly meetings were held at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Canton. Some memorable programs were the Easter/Passover speakers, Pastor Bill Harvey and Rabbi John Spitzer; the grandson of John Naismith, the inventor of Basketball; Congressman Ralph Regula; the Ohio Chamber of Commerce President; the Stark Development Board; Mayor Dick Watkins; sportscaster Joe Tait; Indians manager Mike Hargrove; and our South Carolina program.

 

During this year we provided aid to Hurricane Andrew victims in Florida, we hosted a Group Study Exchange Team from Germany, and we donated $14,856 to help restore running water in Haiti.

 

Pancake Day netted an excellent profit of $20,182 for our club to fund service projects. 

   

Our club won a number of awards at the District Conference in April and we awarded 15 Paul Harris Fellows during the year.

 

I was privileged to represent our club at the RI Convention in Orlando, FL and I was most impressed by the great fellowship among Rotarians from around the world.

 

I agreed to serve as our club’s President because one of my primary Rotary mentors, PP and PDG Joe Guenther taught me early on that when you are asked to do something in Rotary, such as serving as president, you were forbidden from saying “No”. So I said, “Yes”.

 

Most of all I enjoyed the good fellowship among our members. Our world is better off, both locally and globally, because of the good work that Rotary does.

 

Jan (Van Nostran) Baker served as the President’s Administrator during this year from the club’s offices in the Bliss Tower.

 

I was sponsored into Rotary by Dr. David Montgomery and I, in turn, sponsored Dr. Fred Whittier, both fine Rotarians.

 

Without doubt, like so many others would say, Joe Guenther helped make the road in Rotary smoother for me. He was an excellent role model of what being a good Rotarian really means.

 

Bringing women into Rotary has provided a great benefit to Rotary. They have brought a new energy and enthusiasm to the service work done by Rotary both locally and globally.

 

More than anything I enjoy the camaraderie of our members and I also have enjoyed attending many other club meetings as “make-ups”. This is a great way to meet new Rotarians and gain a broader appreciation for Rotary around the world. Rotarians are always welcome to attend any Rotary Club meeting anywhere, anytime.

 

It is important for people to understand that Rotary may offer the best opportunity to bring about greater fellowship and harmony to our world through service to others, above self-interest.

 

I think in the future Rotary may become less personal if more activities are conducted on the internet. 

 

Finally, I remember that even though my professional life was on a somewhat downward slope for a while, I was able to keep in touch with our club members when I was away from the club for a few years. This connection with Rotary and Rotarians meant a great deal to me.

 

Happy 100^th Anniversary, Rotary Club of Canton!

 

Michael J. Gregorek

President 1992-1993