LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary
Club of Utica on March 20, 2015

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 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Utica to be feted at
its Centennial Celebration on March 20, 2015, at the Twin Ponds Golf and
Country Club, New York Mills, New York; and
WHEREAS, The world's first service club, Rotary International was
founded on February 23, 1905, when Paul Harris, a native of Vermont,
found himself a stranger in the city of Chicago; he conceived the idea
of inviting three men of different vocations to join him weekly for
fellowship and to discuss each other's problems and business; and
WHEREAS, Today, Rotary International has grown into an organization
including over 1.2 million members in 29,000 clubs across 163 countries;
each club is made up of business and professional leaders who are dedi-
cated to humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all
vocations, and help to build peace and goodwill throughout the world;
and
WHEREAS, In 1914, Utica, New York natives, Frank Despard, George
Evans, Burr Tibbitts, and Charles G. Palmer started a Luncheon Club;
after learning about Rotary International, they chartered their own Club
with 104 men on March 12, 1915, at The Hotel Utica, where they continued
to meet for 57 years; and
WHEREAS, At this first meeting, Seymour Hart was selected as the
Temporary Chairman, a position he held for three years; under his lead-
ership, the Club funded both a dental and an orthopedic clinic for the
residents of Utica, New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1915, the Rotary Club of Utica participated in a "tele-
phone spectacular" wherein the Club members heard a human voice trans-
mitted from more than 3,000 miles; in addition, a Utica vs. Syracuse
Rotary baseball game garnered funds for the Baby Welfare Fund and addi-
tional monies were donated to the Playground Association; and
WHEREAS, During World War I, the Rotary Club of Utica purchased Liber-
ty Bonds and participated in American Legion parades and War Savings
Stamps programs; and
WHEREAS, Rotary Club of Utica was instrumental in the founding of
Utica Kiwanis, Zonta Club, Exchange Club, and the Rotary Club of Rome,
which was the first of 13 Rotary Clubs sponsored by the Utica club; and
WHEREAS, From its inception, the Rotary Club of Utica has been a
proponent of the welfare of area children; the Club built a hospital
unit at Camp Healthmore on Lake Moraine, provided a central building for
the Girl Scouts camp, created an organization called Boys Work dealing
with delinquency and truants, addressed high school students on the
value of education and local job opportunities, and was instrumental in
forming what is now known as the Boys' Club of Utica; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the 1920s the Rotary Club of Utica continued their
emphasis on children, becoming active in Scouting, establishing a Father
and Son banquet for newsboys, hosting Christmas parties, counseling
young parolees, and working with other service organizations in a help-
ing hands program of after-school jobs, character building, athletics,
parties, trips, parental consultations, and physical education; and

WHEREAS, Recently, the Rotary Club of Utica has sponsored a reading
program and built a courtyard at Columbus School, and provided table
tennis equipment to the House of the Good Shepherd; the Club also
supports annual Christmas parties along with The Arc, and assists with
Habitat for Humanity projects; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the Rotary Club of Utica works with the City of
Utica Summer Breakfast program at Adrean Terrace by serving breakfast to
low income students, sponsored the It's A Zoo program in area schools
allowing students to write and act in their original productions and win
a trip, built a gazebo at the Utica Zoo, and conducts an annual fishing
derby for disadvantaged youth; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, the Rotary Club of Utica is actively involved in
providing funding to The Rotary International Foundation to assist with
the effort to eradicate polio around the world; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend
the members of the Rotary Club of Utica, past and present, who have
labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life for
the community it serves by perpetuating its motto of Service Above Self;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Utica on March
20, 2015; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Rotary Club of Utica.