LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Rome
Rotary Club

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those individuals and organizations that devote their energy, resources
and thoughtful care to improving the quality and character of life in
their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 90th Anniversary of the Rome Rotary Club; and
WHEREAS, The world's first service club, Rotary International was
founded on February 23, 1905, when lawyer Paul Harris and three friends
met in a small office in downtown Chicago, and wanted to rekindle the
spirit of friendliness that they had known in their hometowns in the
turn-of-the-century city; and
WHEREAS, Word of the club soon spread and others were invited to join;
they named their new club Rotary, to describe the practice of meeting in
rotation at the members' various places of business; and
WHEREAS, Today, Rotary International is a worldwide organization of
business and professional leaders, that provides humanitarian service,
encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build
goodwill and peace in the world; and
WHEREAS, Records indicate that the Rome Rotary Club was conceived on
the 24th day of October, 1919, on which date Messrs. Depard, Rathbun,
Fraser, Train, and Clark came from Utica and addressed a meeting of
interested Romans at the Rome Club; from this meeting grew an organiza-
tion committee headed by Daniel W. Wardwell, which selected 25 men as
charter members; and
WHEREAS, An organizational meeting was held on November 6, 1919, with
35 Utica Rotarians and twenty charter members of the proposed Rome Rota-
ry Club being present; Officers and Directors were elected and on Novem-
ber 13th, the first luncheon meeting was held; this was featured by an
inaugural address of President Weston Jenkins; and
WHEREAS, Weekly meetings followed with appropriate programs until
January 9, 1920, when the charter was presented by Charles A. Miller,
President of the Utica Rotary Club; a large number of Utica Rotarians
were present as was District Governor Lidbury of Niagara Falls, Frank
Weedon of Syracuse and Reverend George F. Dugan of Albany; the Club grew
steadily in its membership and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, The Charter Members of the Rome Rotary Club were: Merton
Barnes, A.R. Kessinger, Benjamin H. Beach, Arthur P. Knight, Lester C.
Bush, Delos A. Lawton, Arthur F. Carpenter, Albert B. Norton, George G.
Claribut, William J. Mullin, George A. Clyde, Sr., James P. Olney,
Frank J. DeBisschop, George R. Staley, Herbert T. Dyett, Howard J.
Teller, Louis T. Gregerson, Percy C. Thomas, Cassius H. Halsted, George
W. Turney, John R. Harper, Daniel W. Wardwell, Weston Jenkins, Arthur D.
White, and Frank J. Jewell; and
WHEREAS, The first major club project of the Rome Rotary Club was to
initiate the Community Chest in the fall of 1920, and then the Birthday
Fund to care for disabled children; the Rome Rotary Club's service to
Rome continued throughout the years with various service projects; and
WHEREAS, On December 5, 1944 the Rome Rotary Club celebrated its 25th
Anniversary; in keeping with its Rotary motto "Service Above Self", Rome
Rotarians assisted in many charitable efforts in the Second Twenty-Five
Years; in 1944, Rome Rotary held a very successful clothing drive for
the United National Clothing Collection which was done in cooperation
with the Kiwanis Club; another clothing drive was sponsored in 1948 for

Britain and Syria; in that particular year it shipped over 500 pounds of
clothing; and
WHEREAS, During its Third Twenty-Five Years, the Rome Rotary Club was
instrumental in bringing The Gift of Life Program to its District;
through this particular program, children from third world countries who
are in need of lifesaving heart surgery are brought to the United States
where they receive the needed surgery; since its inception in 1990, The
Gift of Life Program has been able to offer critical medical assistance
to 14 children from countries such as Russia, Mexico, Poland, The Domin-
ican Republic, Ukraine, El Salvador and Jamaica; and
WHEREAS, Another highlight of the Rome Rotary Club was its 75th Anni-
versary celebration; over 525 Rotarians and guests attended, including
District Governor Joseph McCarthy and Vice President of Rotary Interna-
tional Howard D. Vann; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend
the members of the Rome Rotary Club, past and present, who have labored
so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life for the
community it serves; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 90th Anniversary of the Rome Rotary Club; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Rome Rotary Club.