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Our History
1986-87
For Rockford Rotary and its president, Dr. Robert Henry, 1986-87 was proving to be one of the more peaceful and productive in club history, right up to the final month. But June of 1987 brought two changes that jolted Rockford Rotary and set off controversies that raged for months to come.
The first came on June 4 when President Henry announced the Board of Director's decision asking that smoking be banned during club meetings. There were members who feared they couldn't survive 90 smoke-free minutes. There were protesters and violators for months to come.
But it was the second jolt that shook Rotary to its foundations. Reacting to a Supreme Court decision, Rotary International President M.A.T. Caparas announced that Rotary International "will not withdraw the charter" of any club that accepts women members. For the first time in Rotary history, the male-only tradition was shattered. The controversy that followed raged throughout Rotary, including the Rockford Club, where there were many who reacted bitterly to the change.
In both cases, the full impact of the new rules was pretty much delayed until the next club year since they came so close to the end of the 1986-87 year.
Prior to that June, things had run smoothly for Rockford Rotary.
The Club's Polio Plus fund target of $13,200 ($50 per member) was exceeded quickly and donations eventually topped $25,000.
Encouraged by the tie between Polio Plus donations and Paul Harris Fellowships, and by some grant possibilities, a record 35 new Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded during the year, bringing the club's total to 124.
Kent Mallquist, the year's district governor, added a five-year, $50,000 Polio Plus campaign pledge.
During the year, 24 new club members were inducted; 11 others were lost, mostly through deaths. The club started the year with 266 members, ended it with 279.
The Club's Charitable Trust donated $19,000 to worthy local organizations, a large share of it going to the YMCA. Then, even more was added later in the year when special needs arose. These donations included $5,000 to landscape the grounds around the Rotary Tower at the Museum Center -- a project still waiting for completion of other Museum work.
The Christmas program featured the first Rotary appearance of the Guilford High School Madrigal Singers.
Rockford Rotary's 70th anniversary was celebrated Feb. 12, 1987 ("we were a little late" officials noted), at the Clock Tower. International President Caparas and Bill O'Donnell of the local club spoke. Cost was $20 a person and 233 attended.
Ladies night was the typical dinner at the MetroCentre and theater at New American Theatre.
President Henry tried to introduce modern bookkeeping within the club. He recalls: "I sold the club on getting our secretary a computer and the software that would have kept track of dues, attendance, committee structures, addresses and other logistics. By the end of my term, however, most of the equipment was still in the box and may still be there for all I know."
(Secretary Bate claims that, despite efforts of many volunteers, the computer never would perform to his satisfaction and eventually was sold to Paul Logli for $1,000.)
Service Above Self awards for 1986-87 were presented to Joseph Gambino, Irene Glasford, Stuart Nelson, William O. Nelson, Jack Packard, Harry Ritter, Richard Rundquist, and (posthumously) to Dean Olson.
1987-88
Oct. 22, 1987, was one of the most important dates in the history of Rockford Rotary Club. On that day, amid major controversy, Rockford Rotarians voted to admit women members. Along with the 1916 vote to form the club and the 1978 vote to dispose of Camp Rotary, the 1987 vote was critical in forming the club as we know it today.
It was three months later, on Jan 28, 1988, that Dr. Gretchen Kreuter, president of Rockford College, became the first woman inducted into the Rockford club. Her sponsor was George Brening, a club past president and a Rotarian since 1959.
A week later, Vivian C. Johnson, a business, community and political leader, became the club's second woman member. She remains an active and leading member of the club.
Before the Rotary year was over, Wendy Perks Fisher, director of the Rockford Convention and Visitor's Bureau, was Rockford Rotary's third woman member.
The 1987-88 Rotary year, under the presidency of Karl Link, would have been exceptional even without the end of the 71-year-old males-only rule.
It was the year the club raised an astounding $40,000 for Rotary International's Polio Plus fund.
During the two-year Rotary International campaign, Rockford Rotary contributed $139,303, including the $50,000 Mallquist pledge. At the Rotary International level, where $120 million had been sought, an amazing $246 million was contributed. The extra money proved essential over the years as immunization costs rose. (It should be noted here that 600 million children had been immunized through this Rotary effort through 1994.)
This also was the year Rockford Rotary completed a three-year drive to raise $100,000 for the New American Theater construction fund.
The contributions of $139,303 to help fight polio worldwide and $100,000 to NAT came just a few years after Rockford Rotary donated $50,000 to buy the Rockford Trolley for the Park District. Along with the approximately $18,000 given in 1987-88 in smaller donations to other Rockford charitable organizations, those figures give an idea of the size of the financial contributions made by Rockford Rotary.
This also was the year two students nominated by Rockford Rotary, John Costello and Kimberly Ann Keefer, both won R.I. scholarships.
It was the year Rockford Rotary established two $1,000 scholarships for local high school seniors.
It was the year Rockford Rotary created Life Memberships for outstanding club members.
At the end of this Rotary year, the first five Life Members were named. They were Dr. Joseph Cleveland, John W. Conrad, Edward Eisner, Dr. Arthur R.K. Matthews, and Ernest L. Swarts.
Of course, it also was the year the cost of meals went from $6 to $7. It was the year no-smoking rules were strictly enforced, and it was the year the long-time club treasurer, Ed Abegg, fell in early December, seriously injuring his hip.
On a brighter note, there was a sweet corn outing at Bruce Atwood's Fish Farm, U.S. Rep. Lynn Martin was among club speakers, the Keith School madrigals presented the Christmas program, a Swedish Women's Group Exchange Team members were club guests, and Jim Sullivan presented an unforgettable Saint Patrick's Day program.
Service Above Self awards were presented to Edward Abegg, Paul Logli, Dorothy Ann Geiger, Eleanor Henrickson, Judy Luter, Rita M. Moore, and David Broman.
The club started the year with 272 members; ended it with 287.
1988-89
The importance of women in Rockford Rotary was established firmly during the 1988-89 club year.
Elise Cadigan became the club's fourth woman member on Sept. 15; Cynthia M. Smith became the fifth two weeks later. Ruth Little, Mary Gorman, and Nancy Smith were installed during January. Tara Busser (now Tara Blazer) and Mary Feldsien of Rockford College gave the club 10 women members by the end of the year.
Nearly all of these members have filled important roles in Rotary in the years since.
When recalling the year, 1988-89 President C. Steven Sjogren reported: "During the year we welcomed 28 new members and lost 21. There were 12 new Paul Harris fellows honored and three new Paul Harris sustaining memberships.
"Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Program was started in District 642 in October. Our Club sponsored two young people in the program."
The year also produced a survey of Rockford members, done by Del Peterson. Of 284 members in the study, Ed Eisner was the oldest. He was 98 at the time. The youngest was 31. The average age was just over 58; the median age was 48.
An attendance survey taken early in the year showed that Warren Bate had perfect attendance since June 2, 1949; Cully Carlson since November of 1950; and Ed Abegg since April of 1957.
Rockford Mayor John McNamara was the year's first speaker; new Rockford Mayor Charles Box the last. School Supt. Jack Swanson was among outstanding speakers in between.
Rockford Rotary awarded $1,000 scholarships to two high school seniors, Deborah Day of Auburn and Eric Welton of Guilford.
The East High Swing Choir presented the Christmas program and a Ladies' Night was held at the City Club.
Service Above Self awards went to Norma Bender, Sue Mroz, Mary Ann Smith, Julie Snively, John R. Anderson, Raymond Den Adel, Tref Harnois, and (posthumously) Harley Mullins.
"As usual, all good things come to an end," Sjogren recalls, "and so did my year as president of Rotary, and on that final Thursday in June, in keeping with the Order of the Shelf, the honorary medal, the gavel, and ceremonial bell were turned over to Jack Joyce, who led during the next Rotary year."
1989-90
Jan. 25, 1990, was the day of the big blizzard. Streets were ice packed. Winds howled. Ten inches of snow fell. It was a Thursday, Rotary meeting day.
Thirty-nine members showed up. The speaker didn't. But Program Chairman Paul Logli, never at a loss for words, took the podium himself. Jack Joyce, club president that year, recalls that Logli "told some jokes." Two other club members, Chuck Holzworth of the School Board and Fire Chief Bill Baylor rounded out one of the better programs of the year. "Food had been prepared for 165, so many had seconds," Joyce says.
The blizzard was a memorable occasion, but, Joyce says, "The highlight of the year was the May 10 announcement by Scott and Virginia Webster that they would contribute $150,000 as a matching dollar-for-dollar fund raiser for the Rockford Rotary Charitable Association."
Jim Edgar, then secretary of state, spoke at one meeting. Ed Eisner, oldest member of the Rockford club, attended a club meeting to mark his 100th birthday. There was a concert by the Park Avenue Jazz, a 20-piece big band from Ohio Wesleyan. Another meeting featured brothers Dennis and Dale Johnson, along with Dennis' daughter, Tonya Meister, discussing the printing business
The Rockford Club contributed $20,300 to Rockford organizations that year. High School seniors Dawn Olson and Amy Herdricks were awarded $1,000 scholarships.
Service Above Self awards went to John McNamara, John B. Whitehead, Robert Henry, Marshall Erickson, Dale Sanders, John C. McCarthy, Ruby Smith Thompson, and Sue Wittman.
The Rockford Club started the year with 284 members; ended it with 287.
1990-91
Rockford Rotary turned 75 years old in 1990-91, without showing signs of slowing down. But Ed Abegg, 10 years older than the club, decided the time had come to step aside as the club's treasurer.
The Club's 75th anniversary was celebrated June 15 with a gala event at Rockford College. Abegg was honored at a May 31 surprise Rotary party. His daughter and family flew in from Kansas City. Howard Bell, dressed appropriately, recalled Abegg's rural Iowa background. J. Peter Jeffery recalled Abegg's decades of special service as a banker. There was a plaque from Rockford Rotary and a proclamation from the Governor.
Abegg, a member of Rotary since 1957, had been Rockford Rotary treasurer since 1964. Those were 27 years that will live in Rotary legend because of the zeal with which Abegg guarded club funds.
The 1990-91 Rotary year, led by President Larry R. Carlson, also brought a surprise 75th birthday party for Warren Bate, who took over as club secretary in 1964.
Gretchen Kreuter became the first woman member of the Rockford Club's Board of Directors, elected to a two-year term.
Another Rockford Rotarian, Raymond Den Adel, was honored during the year with an appointment as a Rotary Governor's Aide.
Two Rockford students, Harvey Newcomb and Lisa K. Johnson, spent the year abroad on Rotary International scholarships.
In a major program change, outstanding students from the nine local high school all were honored at the same program, on March 28, instead of at individual Club meetings. There are members who still believe this was a mistake.
The Charitable Association distributed $23,600 in donations to local organizations. The Jefferson High Glee Club presented the Christmas program. Rockford hosted the District Convention in June. Scholarships worth $1,000 each were awarded two local high school seniors.
Directors ordered a $25 increase in club dues, bringing the annual fee to $175.
Service Above Self awards went to James A. Bailey, Cedric Blazer, Dale Emerick, Dr. John P. McHugh, William Baylor, John Nolte, Webbs Norman, C. Philip Turner, Carolyn Allison, and Robert Schou.
Rockford Rotary started the year with 280 members; ended it with 293. In additional, there were 11 life and honorary members.
1991-92
When Rockford's favorite toastmaster/quipster, Paul Logli, became Rotary president, club members expected an unusual number of laughs. Logli did not disappoint.
But the year also had its serious side.
Rockford Rotary took over as chief sponsor of the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, providing $3,000 and 40 volunteer waiters for the event.
Vivian Johnson became the second woman member of the Rockford Club's Board of Directors.
Scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded to high school seniors Cheyenne Schnorr and Edwin J. Greenfield.
Bill Sowle reported on his bike tour in China.
Guilford High Chambre Singers presented the Christmas program.
The Charitable Association distributed a record $27,830 to 14 organizations, including a one-time gift of $7,500 to Rock River Discovery Park in commemoration of the Club's 75th anniversary.
However, the year's biggest challenge didn't fare well. As the year opened, club members had donated $87,000 to the club's permanent endowment in an attempt to raise $150,000 needed to match the Scott and Virginia Webster challenge fund.
But at year's end only $18,000 more had been donated -- leaving the campaign about $43,000 short with only one year to go before the challenge deadline.
Meanwhile, on March 9, Scott Webster was awarded a Life Membership, only the 12th in Rockford Rotary history. Little over a month later, on April 20, 1992, Webster died at 78.
Service Above Self Awards went to Darlene Hanna, Fran Middleton, Menroy Mills, Margaret Rudy, Eloise Muhl, Sandra Tower, Elvira Ventimiglia, Calvin Covert, Kent Mallquist, and (posthumously) Scott Webster.
The year started with 290 members; ended with 292. Shortly after the Rotary year ended, Dr. Gretchen Kreuter left Rockford and resigned from Rockford Rotary. She had been the club's first woman member.
1992-93
This was the year a Rockford Rotary banner went to the North Pole. It was the year an all-member assembly meeting was called for the first time in memory. It was the year a jazz guitarist and a 45-member concert choir broke Rotary routine by performing in back-to-back meetings.
It was the year Gov. Jim Edgar spoke at a club meeting. It was the year Catholic Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill and Lutheran Bishop Ronald K. Hasley spoke at the year's first meeting. (Some believe they were invited to help tone down member complaints about an increase in the luncheon cost to $8.)
It also was the year President Tom Johnson kept the humor flowing with an endless supply of jokes, most of them at the expense of Club Secretary Warren Bate. It was the 29th consecutive year for Bate as Rockford Rotary secretary.
The Rockford Rotary banner went to the North Pole with Paul Gaziano, planted in his pack by his Rotarian wife, Judge Rosemary Collins. The jazz guitarist was Jim Kanas; the concert choir came from Northern Illinois University.
Ed Eisner marked his 103rd birthday by attending a club meeting. Boylan High School's Special Edition musical group presented the Christmas program.
Virginia Webster, Scott's widow, joined Rockford Rotary with the classification of Honorary; Ardent Supporter.
It was the year the three-year deadline came and Rockford Rotary still was more than $20,000 short of meeting the Webster challenge grant of $150,000. (The deadline was extended another six months.)
Rockford Rotary again was the major sponsor of the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, providing $3,000 and 45 volunteer waiters.
The Club's Charitable Association donated $28,400 to 22 local causes.
Changes were made in the Club's two $1,000 scholarships. They now were for study at Rockford College and one would be for Criminal Justice studies. Winners were Rockford Police Officer Chester L. Epperson Jr. and high school senior Jeffrey Damon.
Honored for Service Above Self were Barbara L. Berman, Dorothy Delman, Brad Riggs, Elmer Rudy, Connie Tucker, Beverly Whitehead, Fred Wright, and William Sterling. Since these awards were originated in November of 1967, 158 leaders from this community had been honored.
Rockford Rotary started the year with 285 members; ended with 287.
1993-94
It was Dutch treat in 1993-94 for Rockford Rotary. Not only was Ray Den Adel the president, but the Group Exchange program was with The Netherlands. After a year of Ray's weekly reports, Rotarians knew everything they ever wanted to know about the Dutch.
This was a year of other major accomplishments.
Although Rockford Rotary members didn't quite reach the $150,000 challenge figure, Virginia Webster donated the full $150,000 she and her late husband, Scott, had offered Rockford Rotary. The Webster gift and over $130,000 in donations from club members more than doubled the amount of money in the Club's Charitable Association account, allowing the Club to help many more local organizations. By year's end, the endowment fund had reached $550,000 and its interest enabled Rockford Rotary to make a sizable increase in its annual community contributions.
For the 1993-94 year, Rockford Rotary donated $31,450, split among 31 local projects. Major donations included $3,000 to the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, $2,500 to the Boy Scouts for improvements on camp sites, and $2,000 in Camp Winnebago camperships.
Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to 17 club members during the year.
Scholarships for $1,000 each went to Police Officer Dennis Oblinger and high school senior Jeremy Enke.
The Club sponsored three high school students in the RYLA Conference in May, produced an essay winner in the Drug Prevention Contest, and received first-place District awards for both a Community Betterment Project and the newsletter contest.
Once again, as it had for many years, Rockford Rotary financed more gift subscriptions to "The Rotarian" than any other club worldwide. As a Rotary International officials put it: "There is no other club that even comes close."
Of course, this was the year Rockford Rotary went to the birds. The May 12 program, presented by the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis, unleashed several varieties of birds of prey to fly across the room, just skimming many a balding Rotarian head. Both birds and club members escaped with no untoward incidents. It was among the most exciting programs in recent Rockford Club history.
Other meetings featured 10 former Rockford Rotary presidents in a series of The Way We Were programs.
In other outstanding events, Guilford High School Chambre Singers provided music for the Christmas program. About 50 Rotarians served as volunteer waiters at the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, outstanding students from nine local high schools were honored on April 14.
Service Above Self awards went to Alvin Becker, Earl Kaney, Connie Lane, Judith Picus, Curtiss Reynolds, Charles Uram, and C. Steven Sjogren. Awards now had been given to 165 community leaders.
Rockford Rotary started the year with 282 members, plus 11 honorary members; at years end there were 293 and 13 honorary. Thirty-seven new members joined the club, sending total Club membership over the 300 mark.
1994-95
With history buff Alan Carlson as president, Rockford Rotary members expected a heavy dose of the past in 1994-95. Carlson didn't disappoint, with weekly vignettes pointing out with a touch of the ironic how much Rockford and the world has changed, and how much it has remained the same.
When Club Treasurer Shawn Way left town and Rockford Rotary, he was replaced for the Rotary year by Susan Short, who thus became the first woman to hold one of the Club's four officer positions.
It also was the year when Club members went where few Rotarians have gone before -- in a search for The Top Quark led by a Fermi Lab physicist. Few Club members completed the May 11 meeting trip successfully.
There were new honors. The Club's two annual $1,000 scholarships were named in honor of prominent Rotarians. The educational scholarship became the Dr. John A. Howard scholarship and was awarded to Susanne Keely; the criminal justice scholarship became the Leslie Geddes scholarship and was awarded to Rebecca Noegel.
The Charitable Association donated $31,850, a Rockford Rotary record, to local causes.
However, this also was the year a local Rotary Club disbanded. Rockford South, started in October of 1983 with the help of the Rockford Rotary Club, ceased operations as of Dec. 31, 1994.
It was the year Rockford Rotary lost its oldest member. Ed Eisner died on Sept. 8, 1994, a little over a month before his 105th birthday.
Special events for Rockford Rotary during the year included a Christmas season program by the Guilford Chambre Singers, the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon on April 12 underwritten largely by Rockford Rotary, Student Recognition Day on April 27, and a June 4 club outing at the Bruce and Patricia Atwood farm.
President Carlson named a committee headed by Arthur T. Johnson to start planning Rockford Rotary's 80th anniversary celebration for the 1995-96 year.
Incoming President Wray Howard was welcomed at a special program that included an appearance by two Rockford Lightning cheerleaders. Howard immediately announced selection of Bruce Atwood as program chairman for the coming year, thus putting Atwood in line to become president in two years. Atwood will be a third-generation Rockford Rotary president.
Service Above Self awards were presented to Stewart Fisher, John Boreen, Janet Brown Colman, Dr. William H. Palmer, Patricia S. Peterson, and Richard L. Puckett. The club now had honored 171 with these awards.
When the year started in September, Rockford Rotary had 289 members, plus 13 honorary/life members. As the year ended in June, there were 290 members, but only 9 life/honorary members.
1995-96
A Rotary wag once suggested that the club motto should be: "They came, they ate, they sang."
An innocent first-time visitor might find some truth in the suggestion because most of Rockford Rotary's efforts are out of the public eye. In large part, this is because Rockford Rotary holds no public fund-raisers; Rockford Rotary contributions come only from members.
But the fact that Rotary operates out of the glare of publicity certainly doesn't lessen the major impact of its work. This year, the 80th anniversary of Rockford Rotary, is an opportunity to look at Rockford Rotary's impact on this community.
The Rockford Rotary Charitable Association makes annual financial contributions to scores of local groups. In the last 10 years alone, these contributions from the club have totaled almost a quarter of a million dollars -- and are increasing annually. Almost at the same time, Club members have given another $100,000 to help construction of the New American Theatre building, $50,000 for the Park District trolley car, and almost $140,000 for the world-wide drive to eradicate polio.
During those 10 years, Charitable Fund contributions have ranged from an emergency $75 to save a Nelson School field trip to almost $35,000 to support YMCA camperships for needy youngsters. They have supported Rock River Pantry, the Hunger Connection, and the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon. Donations have gone for Midnight Basketball and the Rockford Area Youth Symphony Orchestra. They have financed scholarships and student exchange programs. In the last 10 years, contributions have been made to 68 different organizations or programs.
That is a proud record.
Wray Howard was Rockford Rotary president for the 80th anniversary year. Terry Anderson was vice president; Bruce Atwood vice president; Susan Short treasurer; and Warren Bate, for the 32nd consecutive year, secretary. Howard announced goals for the year that rested heavily on increasing Rockford Club membership and member involvement.
The year got off to a great start with speakers explaining what is happening in the Balkans, what happened in the O.J. Simpson trial, why so little has happened to the old Camp Rotary land, and why so much has happened to Rock Valley Community College. There also were two unique session, each featuring three speakers, on the amazing Rock River. Speakers touched on everything from water quality to fishing.
When Jan Wilhelm, long-time club member and Senior Resident FBI Agent here, retired in the fall, Rotary broke with tradition to present Jan with a Service Above Self award at his retirement celebration. Other winners were to be announced near the end of the club year.
Even the annual Christmas program was unique. Rather than the usual youth choir, the year's program featured the adult Sanctuary Choir from Second Congregational Church.
At mid-year, acting with the usual dispatch, officers were elected for the 1996-97 club year. As expected, there was no opposition to the official slate. Commonwealth Edison's James O'Connor, a veteran observer of Chicago politics, suggested afterward that Chicago politicians could learn a lot from Rockford Rotary about how to control an election.
As expected, Terry Anderson was named 1996-97 president; Bruce Atwood, vice president; and Warren Bate, executive secretary. There was one surprise, due to family responsibilities, Susan Short resigned as club treasurer and was replaced by Thomas Scoville, an Amcore Bank vice president. Once again, Rotary had no woman officer.
Then there was the club meeting of Jan. 25. As members arrived, it was obvious that something was wrong. Then the word spread. "Warren is missing." "Nobody knows where Warren is." Club Secretary Warren Bate, who was so proud of his long record of never missing a club meeting, wasn't there and hadn't called. Friends were sent to his home. Later in the meeting word came that Warren had fallen in his home and now was hospitalized. The next day, word spread that Warren had suffered a stroke.
As Rockford Rotary members worried about Warren's condition, they also worried about all the club duties that only he knew how to handle.
Dr. Richard Sandberg, veteran secretary of Belvidere Rotary Club, was recruited to give advice. Phil Dierstein volunteered to try to keep up with the paper work temporarily. Vice President Terry Anderson took over publication of the weekly Cog. Rockford Rotary went on. But it just wasn't the same.
For Rockford Rotary and its president, Dr. Robert Henry, 1986-87 was proving to be one of the more peaceful and productive in club history, right up to the final month. But June of 1987 brought two changes that jolted Rockford Rotary and set off controversies that raged for months to come.
The first came on June 4 when President Henry announced the Board of Director's decision asking that smoking be banned during club meetings. There were members who feared they couldn't survive 90 smoke-free minutes. There were protesters and violators for months to come.
But it was the second jolt that shook Rotary to its foundations. Reacting to a Supreme Court decision, Rotary International President M.A.T. Caparas announced that Rotary International "will not withdraw the charter" of any club that accepts women members. For the first time in Rotary history, the male-only tradition was shattered. The controversy that followed raged throughout Rotary, including the Rockford Club, where there were many who reacted bitterly to the change.
In both cases, the full impact of the new rules was pretty much delayed until the next club year since they came so close to the end of the 1986-87 year.
Prior to that June, things had run smoothly for Rockford Rotary.
The Club's Polio Plus fund target of $13,200 ($50 per member) was exceeded quickly and donations eventually topped $25,000.
Encouraged by the tie between Polio Plus donations and Paul Harris Fellowships, and by some grant possibilities, a record 35 new Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded during the year, bringing the club's total to 124.
Kent Mallquist, the year's district governor, added a five-year, $50,000 Polio Plus campaign pledge.
During the year, 24 new club members were inducted; 11 others were lost, mostly through deaths. The club started the year with 266 members, ended it with 279.
The Club's Charitable Trust donated $19,000 to worthy local organizations, a large share of it going to the YMCA. Then, even more was added later in the year when special needs arose. These donations included $5,000 to landscape the grounds around the Rotary Tower at the Museum Center -- a project still waiting for completion of other Museum work.
The Christmas program featured the first Rotary appearance of the Guilford High School Madrigal Singers.
Rockford Rotary's 70th anniversary was celebrated Feb. 12, 1987 ("we were a little late" officials noted), at the Clock Tower. International President Caparas and Bill O'Donnell of the local club spoke. Cost was $20 a person and 233 attended.
Ladies night was the typical dinner at the MetroCentre and theater at New American Theatre.
President Henry tried to introduce modern bookkeeping within the club. He recalls: "I sold the club on getting our secretary a computer and the software that would have kept track of dues, attendance, committee structures, addresses and other logistics. By the end of my term, however, most of the equipment was still in the box and may still be there for all I know."
(Secretary Bate claims that, despite efforts of many volunteers, the computer never would perform to his satisfaction and eventually was sold to Paul Logli for $1,000.)
Service Above Self awards for 1986-87 were presented to Joseph Gambino, Irene Glasford, Stuart Nelson, William O. Nelson, Jack Packard, Harry Ritter, Richard Rundquist, and (posthumously) to Dean Olson.
1987-88
Oct. 22, 1987, was one of the most important dates in the history of Rockford Rotary Club. On that day, amid major controversy, Rockford Rotarians voted to admit women members. Along with the 1916 vote to form the club and the 1978 vote to dispose of Camp Rotary, the 1987 vote was critical in forming the club as we know it today.
It was three months later, on Jan 28, 1988, that Dr. Gretchen Kreuter, president of Rockford College, became the first woman inducted into the Rockford club. Her sponsor was George Brening, a club past president and a Rotarian since 1959.
A week later, Vivian C. Johnson, a business, community and political leader, became the club's second woman member. She remains an active and leading member of the club.
Before the Rotary year was over, Wendy Perks Fisher, director of the Rockford Convention and Visitor's Bureau, was Rockford Rotary's third woman member.
The 1987-88 Rotary year, under the presidency of Karl Link, would have been exceptional even without the end of the 71-year-old males-only rule.
It was the year the club raised an astounding $40,000 for Rotary International's Polio Plus fund.
During the two-year Rotary International campaign, Rockford Rotary contributed $139,303, including the $50,000 Mallquist pledge. At the Rotary International level, where $120 million had been sought, an amazing $246 million was contributed. The extra money proved essential over the years as immunization costs rose. (It should be noted here that 600 million children had been immunized through this Rotary effort through 1994.)
This also was the year Rockford Rotary completed a three-year drive to raise $100,000 for the New American Theater construction fund.
The contributions of $139,303 to help fight polio worldwide and $100,000 to NAT came just a few years after Rockford Rotary donated $50,000 to buy the Rockford Trolley for the Park District. Along with the approximately $18,000 given in 1987-88 in smaller donations to other Rockford charitable organizations, those figures give an idea of the size of the financial contributions made by Rockford Rotary.
This also was the year two students nominated by Rockford Rotary, John Costello and Kimberly Ann Keefer, both won R.I. scholarships.
It was the year Rockford Rotary established two $1,000 scholarships for local high school seniors.
It was the year Rockford Rotary created Life Memberships for outstanding club members.
At the end of this Rotary year, the first five Life Members were named. They were Dr. Joseph Cleveland, John W. Conrad, Edward Eisner, Dr. Arthur R.K. Matthews, and Ernest L. Swarts.
Of course, it also was the year the cost of meals went from $6 to $7. It was the year no-smoking rules were strictly enforced, and it was the year the long-time club treasurer, Ed Abegg, fell in early December, seriously injuring his hip.
On a brighter note, there was a sweet corn outing at Bruce Atwood's Fish Farm, U.S. Rep. Lynn Martin was among club speakers, the Keith School madrigals presented the Christmas program, a Swedish Women's Group Exchange Team members were club guests, and Jim Sullivan presented an unforgettable Saint Patrick's Day program.
Service Above Self awards were presented to Edward Abegg, Paul Logli, Dorothy Ann Geiger, Eleanor Henrickson, Judy Luter, Rita M. Moore, and David Broman.
The club started the year with 272 members; ended it with 287.
1988-89
The importance of women in Rockford Rotary was established firmly during the 1988-89 club year.
Elise Cadigan became the club's fourth woman member on Sept. 15; Cynthia M. Smith became the fifth two weeks later. Ruth Little, Mary Gorman, and Nancy Smith were installed during January. Tara Busser (now Tara Blazer) and Mary Feldsien of Rockford College gave the club 10 women members by the end of the year.
Nearly all of these members have filled important roles in Rotary in the years since.
When recalling the year, 1988-89 President C. Steven Sjogren reported: "During the year we welcomed 28 new members and lost 21. There were 12 new Paul Harris fellows honored and three new Paul Harris sustaining memberships.
"Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Program was started in District 642 in October. Our Club sponsored two young people in the program."
The year also produced a survey of Rockford members, done by Del Peterson. Of 284 members in the study, Ed Eisner was the oldest. He was 98 at the time. The youngest was 31. The average age was just over 58; the median age was 48.
An attendance survey taken early in the year showed that Warren Bate had perfect attendance since June 2, 1949; Cully Carlson since November of 1950; and Ed Abegg since April of 1957.
Rockford Mayor John McNamara was the year's first speaker; new Rockford Mayor Charles Box the last. School Supt. Jack Swanson was among outstanding speakers in between.
Rockford Rotary awarded $1,000 scholarships to two high school seniors, Deborah Day of Auburn and Eric Welton of Guilford.
The East High Swing Choir presented the Christmas program and a Ladies' Night was held at the City Club.
Service Above Self awards went to Norma Bender, Sue Mroz, Mary Ann Smith, Julie Snively, John R. Anderson, Raymond Den Adel, Tref Harnois, and (posthumously) Harley Mullins.
"As usual, all good things come to an end," Sjogren recalls, "and so did my year as president of Rotary, and on that final Thursday in June, in keeping with the Order of the Shelf, the honorary medal, the gavel, and ceremonial bell were turned over to Jack Joyce, who led during the next Rotary year."
1989-90
Jan. 25, 1990, was the day of the big blizzard. Streets were ice packed. Winds howled. Ten inches of snow fell. It was a Thursday, Rotary meeting day.
Thirty-nine members showed up. The speaker didn't. But Program Chairman Paul Logli, never at a loss for words, took the podium himself. Jack Joyce, club president that year, recalls that Logli "told some jokes." Two other club members, Chuck Holzworth of the School Board and Fire Chief Bill Baylor rounded out one of the better programs of the year. "Food had been prepared for 165, so many had seconds," Joyce says.
The blizzard was a memorable occasion, but, Joyce says, "The highlight of the year was the May 10 announcement by Scott and Virginia Webster that they would contribute $150,000 as a matching dollar-for-dollar fund raiser for the Rockford Rotary Charitable Association."
Jim Edgar, then secretary of state, spoke at one meeting. Ed Eisner, oldest member of the Rockford club, attended a club meeting to mark his 100th birthday. There was a concert by the Park Avenue Jazz, a 20-piece big band from Ohio Wesleyan. Another meeting featured brothers Dennis and Dale Johnson, along with Dennis' daughter, Tonya Meister, discussing the printing business
The Rockford Club contributed $20,300 to Rockford organizations that year. High School seniors Dawn Olson and Amy Herdricks were awarded $1,000 scholarships.
Service Above Self awards went to John McNamara, John B. Whitehead, Robert Henry, Marshall Erickson, Dale Sanders, John C. McCarthy, Ruby Smith Thompson, and Sue Wittman.
The Rockford Club started the year with 284 members; ended it with 287.
1990-91
Rockford Rotary turned 75 years old in 1990-91, without showing signs of slowing down. But Ed Abegg, 10 years older than the club, decided the time had come to step aside as the club's treasurer.
The Club's 75th anniversary was celebrated June 15 with a gala event at Rockford College. Abegg was honored at a May 31 surprise Rotary party. His daughter and family flew in from Kansas City. Howard Bell, dressed appropriately, recalled Abegg's rural Iowa background. J. Peter Jeffery recalled Abegg's decades of special service as a banker. There was a plaque from Rockford Rotary and a proclamation from the Governor.
Abegg, a member of Rotary since 1957, had been Rockford Rotary treasurer since 1964. Those were 27 years that will live in Rotary legend because of the zeal with which Abegg guarded club funds.
The 1990-91 Rotary year, led by President Larry R. Carlson, also brought a surprise 75th birthday party for Warren Bate, who took over as club secretary in 1964.
Gretchen Kreuter became the first woman member of the Rockford Club's Board of Directors, elected to a two-year term.
Another Rockford Rotarian, Raymond Den Adel, was honored during the year with an appointment as a Rotary Governor's Aide.
Two Rockford students, Harvey Newcomb and Lisa K. Johnson, spent the year abroad on Rotary International scholarships.
In a major program change, outstanding students from the nine local high school all were honored at the same program, on March 28, instead of at individual Club meetings. There are members who still believe this was a mistake.
The Charitable Association distributed $23,600 in donations to local organizations. The Jefferson High Glee Club presented the Christmas program. Rockford hosted the District Convention in June. Scholarships worth $1,000 each were awarded two local high school seniors.
Directors ordered a $25 increase in club dues, bringing the annual fee to $175.
Service Above Self awards went to James A. Bailey, Cedric Blazer, Dale Emerick, Dr. John P. McHugh, William Baylor, John Nolte, Webbs Norman, C. Philip Turner, Carolyn Allison, and Robert Schou.
Rockford Rotary started the year with 280 members; ended it with 293. In additional, there were 11 life and honorary members.
1991-92
When Rockford's favorite toastmaster/quipster, Paul Logli, became Rotary president, club members expected an unusual number of laughs. Logli did not disappoint.
But the year also had its serious side.
Rockford Rotary took over as chief sponsor of the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, providing $3,000 and 40 volunteer waiters for the event.
Vivian Johnson became the second woman member of the Rockford Club's Board of Directors.
Scholarships of $1,000 each were awarded to high school seniors Cheyenne Schnorr and Edwin J. Greenfield.
Bill Sowle reported on his bike tour in China.
Guilford High Chambre Singers presented the Christmas program.
The Charitable Association distributed a record $27,830 to 14 organizations, including a one-time gift of $7,500 to Rock River Discovery Park in commemoration of the Club's 75th anniversary.
However, the year's biggest challenge didn't fare well. As the year opened, club members had donated $87,000 to the club's permanent endowment in an attempt to raise $150,000 needed to match the Scott and Virginia Webster challenge fund.
But at year's end only $18,000 more had been donated -- leaving the campaign about $43,000 short with only one year to go before the challenge deadline.
Meanwhile, on March 9, Scott Webster was awarded a Life Membership, only the 12th in Rockford Rotary history. Little over a month later, on April 20, 1992, Webster died at 78.
Service Above Self Awards went to Darlene Hanna, Fran Middleton, Menroy Mills, Margaret Rudy, Eloise Muhl, Sandra Tower, Elvira Ventimiglia, Calvin Covert, Kent Mallquist, and (posthumously) Scott Webster.
The year started with 290 members; ended with 292. Shortly after the Rotary year ended, Dr. Gretchen Kreuter left Rockford and resigned from Rockford Rotary. She had been the club's first woman member.
1992-93
This was the year a Rockford Rotary banner went to the North Pole. It was the year an all-member assembly meeting was called for the first time in memory. It was the year a jazz guitarist and a 45-member concert choir broke Rotary routine by performing in back-to-back meetings.
It was the year Gov. Jim Edgar spoke at a club meeting. It was the year Catholic Bishop Arthur J. O'Neill and Lutheran Bishop Ronald K. Hasley spoke at the year's first meeting. (Some believe they were invited to help tone down member complaints about an increase in the luncheon cost to $8.)
It also was the year President Tom Johnson kept the humor flowing with an endless supply of jokes, most of them at the expense of Club Secretary Warren Bate. It was the 29th consecutive year for Bate as Rockford Rotary secretary.
The Rockford Rotary banner went to the North Pole with Paul Gaziano, planted in his pack by his Rotarian wife, Judge Rosemary Collins. The jazz guitarist was Jim Kanas; the concert choir came from Northern Illinois University.
Ed Eisner marked his 103rd birthday by attending a club meeting. Boylan High School's Special Edition musical group presented the Christmas program.
Virginia Webster, Scott's widow, joined Rockford Rotary with the classification of Honorary; Ardent Supporter.
It was the year the three-year deadline came and Rockford Rotary still was more than $20,000 short of meeting the Webster challenge grant of $150,000. (The deadline was extended another six months.)
Rockford Rotary again was the major sponsor of the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, providing $3,000 and 45 volunteer waiters.
The Club's Charitable Association donated $28,400 to 22 local causes.
Changes were made in the Club's two $1,000 scholarships. They now were for study at Rockford College and one would be for Criminal Justice studies. Winners were Rockford Police Officer Chester L. Epperson Jr. and high school senior Jeffrey Damon.
Honored for Service Above Self were Barbara L. Berman, Dorothy Delman, Brad Riggs, Elmer Rudy, Connie Tucker, Beverly Whitehead, Fred Wright, and William Sterling. Since these awards were originated in November of 1967, 158 leaders from this community had been honored.
Rockford Rotary started the year with 285 members; ended with 287.
1993-94
It was Dutch treat in 1993-94 for Rockford Rotary. Not only was Ray Den Adel the president, but the Group Exchange program was with The Netherlands. After a year of Ray's weekly reports, Rotarians knew everything they ever wanted to know about the Dutch.
This was a year of other major accomplishments.
Although Rockford Rotary members didn't quite reach the $150,000 challenge figure, Virginia Webster donated the full $150,000 she and her late husband, Scott, had offered Rockford Rotary. The Webster gift and over $130,000 in donations from club members more than doubled the amount of money in the Club's Charitable Association account, allowing the Club to help many more local organizations. By year's end, the endowment fund had reached $550,000 and its interest enabled Rockford Rotary to make a sizable increase in its annual community contributions.
For the 1993-94 year, Rockford Rotary donated $31,450, split among 31 local projects. Major donations included $3,000 to the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, $2,500 to the Boy Scouts for improvements on camp sites, and $2,000 in Camp Winnebago camperships.
Paul Harris Fellowships were awarded to 17 club members during the year.
Scholarships for $1,000 each went to Police Officer Dennis Oblinger and high school senior Jeremy Enke.
The Club sponsored three high school students in the RYLA Conference in May, produced an essay winner in the Drug Prevention Contest, and received first-place District awards for both a Community Betterment Project and the newsletter contest.
Once again, as it had for many years, Rockford Rotary financed more gift subscriptions to "The Rotarian" than any other club worldwide. As a Rotary International officials put it: "There is no other club that even comes close."
Of course, this was the year Rockford Rotary went to the birds. The May 12 program, presented by the World Bird Sanctuary of St. Louis, unleashed several varieties of birds of prey to fly across the room, just skimming many a balding Rotarian head. Both birds and club members escaped with no untoward incidents. It was among the most exciting programs in recent Rockford Club history.
Other meetings featured 10 former Rockford Rotary presidents in a series of The Way We Were programs.
In other outstanding events, Guilford High School Chambre Singers provided music for the Christmas program. About 50 Rotarians served as volunteer waiters at the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon, outstanding students from nine local high schools were honored on April 14.
Service Above Self awards went to Alvin Becker, Earl Kaney, Connie Lane, Judith Picus, Curtiss Reynolds, Charles Uram, and C. Steven Sjogren. Awards now had been given to 165 community leaders.
Rockford Rotary started the year with 282 members, plus 11 honorary members; at years end there were 293 and 13 honorary. Thirty-seven new members joined the club, sending total Club membership over the 300 mark.
1994-95
With history buff Alan Carlson as president, Rockford Rotary members expected a heavy dose of the past in 1994-95. Carlson didn't disappoint, with weekly vignettes pointing out with a touch of the ironic how much Rockford and the world has changed, and how much it has remained the same.
When Club Treasurer Shawn Way left town and Rockford Rotary, he was replaced for the Rotary year by Susan Short, who thus became the first woman to hold one of the Club's four officer positions.
It also was the year when Club members went where few Rotarians have gone before -- in a search for The Top Quark led by a Fermi Lab physicist. Few Club members completed the May 11 meeting trip successfully.
There were new honors. The Club's two annual $1,000 scholarships were named in honor of prominent Rotarians. The educational scholarship became the Dr. John A. Howard scholarship and was awarded to Susanne Keely; the criminal justice scholarship became the Leslie Geddes scholarship and was awarded to Rebecca Noegel.
The Charitable Association donated $31,850, a Rockford Rotary record, to local causes.
However, this also was the year a local Rotary Club disbanded. Rockford South, started in October of 1983 with the help of the Rockford Rotary Club, ceased operations as of Dec. 31, 1994.
It was the year Rockford Rotary lost its oldest member. Ed Eisner died on Sept. 8, 1994, a little over a month before his 105th birthday.
Special events for Rockford Rotary during the year included a Christmas season program by the Guilford Chambre Singers, the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon on April 12 underwritten largely by Rockford Rotary, Student Recognition Day on April 27, and a June 4 club outing at the Bruce and Patricia Atwood farm.
President Carlson named a committee headed by Arthur T. Johnson to start planning Rockford Rotary's 80th anniversary celebration for the 1995-96 year.
Incoming President Wray Howard was welcomed at a special program that included an appearance by two Rockford Lightning cheerleaders. Howard immediately announced selection of Bruce Atwood as program chairman for the coming year, thus putting Atwood in line to become president in two years. Atwood will be a third-generation Rockford Rotary president.
Service Above Self awards were presented to Stewart Fisher, John Boreen, Janet Brown Colman, Dr. William H. Palmer, Patricia S. Peterson, and Richard L. Puckett. The club now had honored 171 with these awards.
When the year started in September, Rockford Rotary had 289 members, plus 13 honorary/life members. As the year ended in June, there were 290 members, but only 9 life/honorary members.
1995-96
A Rotary wag once suggested that the club motto should be: "They came, they ate, they sang."
An innocent first-time visitor might find some truth in the suggestion because most of Rockford Rotary's efforts are out of the public eye. In large part, this is because Rockford Rotary holds no public fund-raisers; Rockford Rotary contributions come only from members.
But the fact that Rotary operates out of the glare of publicity certainly doesn't lessen the major impact of its work. This year, the 80th anniversary of Rockford Rotary, is an opportunity to look at Rockford Rotary's impact on this community.
The Rockford Rotary Charitable Association makes annual financial contributions to scores of local groups. In the last 10 years alone, these contributions from the club have totaled almost a quarter of a million dollars -- and are increasing annually. Almost at the same time, Club members have given another $100,000 to help construction of the New American Theatre building, $50,000 for the Park District trolley car, and almost $140,000 for the world-wide drive to eradicate polio.
During those 10 years, Charitable Fund contributions have ranged from an emergency $75 to save a Nelson School field trip to almost $35,000 to support YMCA camperships for needy youngsters. They have supported Rock River Pantry, the Hunger Connection, and the Mayor's Hunger Luncheon. Donations have gone for Midnight Basketball and the Rockford Area Youth Symphony Orchestra. They have financed scholarships and student exchange programs. In the last 10 years, contributions have been made to 68 different organizations or programs.
That is a proud record.
Wray Howard was Rockford Rotary president for the 80th anniversary year. Terry Anderson was vice president; Bruce Atwood vice president; Susan Short treasurer; and Warren Bate, for the 32nd consecutive year, secretary. Howard announced goals for the year that rested heavily on increasing Rockford Club membership and member involvement.
The year got off to a great start with speakers explaining what is happening in the Balkans, what happened in the O.J. Simpson trial, why so little has happened to the old Camp Rotary land, and why so much has happened to Rock Valley Community College. There also were two unique session, each featuring three speakers, on the amazing Rock River. Speakers touched on everything from water quality to fishing.
When Jan Wilhelm, long-time club member and Senior Resident FBI Agent here, retired in the fall, Rotary broke with tradition to present Jan with a Service Above Self award at his retirement celebration. Other winners were to be announced near the end of the club year.
Even the annual Christmas program was unique. Rather than the usual youth choir, the year's program featured the adult Sanctuary Choir from Second Congregational Church.
At mid-year, acting with the usual dispatch, officers were elected for the 1996-97 club year. As expected, there was no opposition to the official slate. Commonwealth Edison's James O'Connor, a veteran observer of Chicago politics, suggested afterward that Chicago politicians could learn a lot from Rockford Rotary about how to control an election.
As expected, Terry Anderson was named 1996-97 president; Bruce Atwood, vice president; and Warren Bate, executive secretary. There was one surprise, due to family responsibilities, Susan Short resigned as club treasurer and was replaced by Thomas Scoville, an Amcore Bank vice president. Once again, Rotary had no woman officer.
Then there was the club meeting of Jan. 25. As members arrived, it was obvious that something was wrong. Then the word spread. "Warren is missing." "Nobody knows where Warren is." Club Secretary Warren Bate, who was so proud of his long record of never missing a club meeting, wasn't there and hadn't called. Friends were sent to his home. Later in the meeting word came that Warren had fallen in his home and now was hospitalized. The next day, word spread that Warren had suffered a stroke.
As Rockford Rotary members worried about Warren's condition, they also worried about all the club duties that only he knew how to handle.
Dr. Richard Sandberg, veteran secretary of Belvidere Rotary Club, was recruited to give advice. Phil Dierstein volunteered to try to keep up with the paper work temporarily. Vice President Terry Anderson took over publication of the weekly Cog. Rockford Rotary went on. But it just wasn't the same.