Part III - Culture, a supplement to the Big Rapids Pioneer Newspaper. Used with permission.



BIG RAPIDS ROTARY ORGANIZED IN 1923
By Candy Allen, Pioneer Community Editor

As Rotary International prepared to celebrate its centennial on Feb. 23, 2005 the Big Rapids Club reflected on its own beginnings and the journey to where it is today.

Organized in 1923 - the roster list of charter membership was closed April 20 of that year - Big Rapids rotary began with 16 members. Those men, proprietors or executives of local businesses, medical professionals, a clergyman, a lawyer and more, saw a need for Rotary had to offer.

One of the founding principles of the Rotarian organization was networking, but the club also includes a humanitarian service component, both locally and internationally. Rotary International has been fighting against the spread of polio, for clean drinking water in all parts of the world, poverty, illiteracy and working for the environment.

Locally through the years, the Big Rapids Club has contributed to the international efforts and has worked here at home as well. Big Rapids Rotarians purchased the planted Colorado blue spruce trees in Hemlock in 1974-75; financed and worked on Rotary Field, a Little League Baseball Diamond along River Street; sponsored a fishing contest arranged by Tommy (J.B) Thompson, for chldren in a pool in Mitchell Creek, where the Fairman Commnity Pool is now located, sponsored foreign exchange students and foreign businessmen; sponsored scholarships for area students; and cleaned up the two miles m-20 near Mecosta, among other projects.

These efforts were funded by a series of events, such as the club sponsored Travelogues in the late 60's, the annual fruit and nut sales, chicken Barbecue at the Mecosta County Agricultural Free Fair and casino nights at the armory.

Sometimes the fund raising volunteers became a little too enthusiastic.

The cook-shack which had been constructed to cover the chicken barbecuing volunteers as they worked, caught on fire one year. Dick Hansen was president at the time.

"We wound up burning down the cook-shack," he recalled, attributing the blaze to "very ambitious charcoal burners," "Courtesy of Holton's (L.P.) Gas, they provided as grills, but we lost a day (of sales). We offered to give refunds -- that was the most money we ever made. People felt sorry for us and didn't turn their tickets in (for a refund)."

Hansen also recalled two occurrences from his presidency (1993-94) that, that unlike the barbecue blaze, he was "particularily [leased about."

Initially, Rotary had been a club that met in the evenings for dinner and conversations.

"Almost ten years ago, when I was president, Rotary International decided to admit women, "Hansen began. "I said we needed to change to a noon club, a luncheon club, (to better accomodate women's work and home life schedules.)"

"So we went to a noon club so women could join so they could enjoy the privileges of networking with bussinessmen and women," he continued "None of this is earthshaking, but it's fair. That was a healthy move for our community. -- I'm pleased I was able to change that -- not by myself, of course."

Hansen noted some of the long-time members at the time of the switch put up some resistance by changing it to a luncheon group -- they enjoyed their dinner times together, he said. Still, the move was made and Hansen is credited as one of the primary forces behnd it. The club began meeting at noon on Tuesdays in 1994-95.

The first woman to join Big Rapids Rotary was June Kilmer in 1988-89. Nearly a decade later, 1997-98, the club had its first woman president, Holly Eads.

The other development of which Hansen is proud is the Rotary Foundation.

"Roy Shoberg set up the foundation," Hansen said, noting Shoberg was made a Paul Harris Fellow. "Now (the Rotary Foundation) is part of the Fremont Foundation.

"We have also done one-time help to all community agencies -- for example, a flat-bottomed boat was donated to search the river after a child died. -- Rotary is a pump-primer; we really do not wantto become part of another agencies budget," Hansen continued, explaining the group's desire to stick to one-time funding requests.

Recent projects for the club membership have included a student mentoring prohram and the two centennial projects, in honor of Rotary International's 100th anniversary.

Hansen said the club has a "stable membership" of 45 to 50 people for the last 20 to 30 years, but it's always looking for new members.

' "I would say most members look forward to going to the meetings -- it's an excellent way to learn about other businesses, community efforts," Hansen said.

Younger members find Rotary helpful, as well, pointed current president Steve Miller.

" one of the neat things -- the club has a great foundation of experienced members who have been in Rotary a long time and care about Rotary and what it is." Miller began.

"Also we have a great new influx of younger members who are willing to step up and get involved -- but are also illing to learn from the membership of the more experienced members."

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