Previous Presidents

Club History

On the fortieth anniversary of the Florence Rotary Club, Dick Smith offered to write a history rather than serve on a committee. Three hard-bound copies were prepared. The club and library each received one and Dick Smith still retains one. Each of the chapters is posted here so that all club members can have access to this unusual and comprehensive history of our town and our club.

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments Siuslaw Pioneer Museum The Siuslaw News and Bob Lawson Siuslaw Public Library Secretaries and Bulletin Editors Mitch Beard of Corvallis Rotary Club James Damato, Jr. RI staff Ken Rystrom Club members, current and past, and friends of Rotary who dug out pictures and tolerated my pestering for information. Buzz Bennetts, Don Gardiner, and Marc Cooksey helped me learn more about my computer and Microsoft Word than I really wanted to know. This material has been compiled from numerous sources and interviews and is correct to the best of my knowledge as of September 30, 2000.

Thank you Dick Smith for your hard work creating this archive!

Table of Contents

FOUR DECADES OF SERVICE (Abridged)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgments

The Objects of Rotary

Getting in Gear (The organization)

Getting in Motion (1960-1970)

Gathering Speed (1970-1980)

Cruising Along (1980-1990)

Overdrive (1990-2000)

AVENUES OF SERVICE

• Community Service
  • Auction
  • C.P.S.R.
  • Western Lane Community Foundation
  • Fund Raising
  • Community Grants
  • Reef
  • First Citizen
  • Hot dogs
  • STEP
• Vocational Service
  • Career Day
  • C.P.S. R. (See Auction and Chapter One)
  • Student of the Month
  • RYLA
  • Whitewater
  • Scholarships
• World Community Service
  • International Student Exchange
  • GSE
  • Friendship Exchanges
  • Rotary Volunteers
  • Eldama Ravine
  • PolioPlus
  • Paul Harris Fellows
• Club Service
  • Past Presidents
  • Officers
  • List of Composite Members
  • Club Newsletter
  • Club Handbook
  • Website
• Documents (Master Copy Only)
  • Charter
  • Tax Letter
  • List of Officers
  • Composite list of members
  • List of Exchange Students (incomplete)

INTRODUCTION

September 23, 2000 Four Decades of Service Introduction “Never write a history while the people included are still alive. No one will be happy with it. Credits will be misdirected or misconstrued, important facts will be overlooked, and you stand the possibility of offending everyone.” With that advice from a friend ringing in my ears, it was with some trepidation, that I attempted to compile a history of the Florence Rotary Club’s first forty years. But it was the hope of drawing on some first-hand memories of early members that prompted me to undertake this project and I trust that they will use the opportunity to make corrections and additions that will enrich the record. Please don’t be offended by the amateur formatting and editing. I am a novice. I have read all of the existing board minutes and bulletins researched the records in the district office, corresponded with Rotary International, and perused microfilm of old newspapers. This has helped to gather the facts. Unfortunately, there are gaps in those sources. The accuracy of any history is dependent upon adequate, reliable sources. The selection process reveals the perspective of the compiler. That is the case here. Naturally, forty years cannot be covered in forty pages. I selected those items that seemed to me to be of special significance or human interest. This project began as a guilt offering to the club president, Tammy England. It was in lieu of serving on a committee. Subsequently I discovered it was the fortieth anniversary of the club. I am glad that penance coincided with the club’s completing four decades of service. September 23, 2000 The Florence Rotary Club has been a significant influence for good in the life of this community. I hope that this brief history captures some of that. 

GETTING IN GEAR (The Organization)

Fifteen curious men gathered for lunch on Monday, February 15, 1960 at the Shake Roof Inn1 to discuss the possibility of organizing a Rotary Club in Florence. None of them had ever been Rotarians so there was a mixture of skepticism, fascination and light joking. District Governor, Dr. E. B. Lemon of Corvallis, explained that “Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.” He outlined the steps necessary to form a new club including among other requirements the need to have a minimum of twenty members from as many different vocations. Members of the Newport Rotary Club volunteered to sponsor the fledgling club and guide them through the process. After receiving answers to a number of questions, the local men agreed to meet the following week to further explore the possibilities. By meeting regularly enthusiasm grew rapidly. Rotary was explained to others who were approached about becoming members. By April 11 the twenty-member quota was reached with one to spare. It was announced that the charter membership roll would close on April 18 when it would be presented to Dr. Lemon for referral to Rotary International’s headquarters. 

Dale Harp agreed to be president of the provisional club. Other officers selected were Art Moyer, vice president, Bob Twidwell, secretary-treasurer and Tony Cicerello, Jerry Seed and Val Davidson as members of the board. Plans started forming that day for a banquet to be held in June to inaugurate the new club. Word came from Dr. Lemon that the application was in order and approval had been given on May 16 making it that the official birth date of the Florence Rotary Club. The group gathered again on June 20 at the The Holiday Lodge to develop final plans for the formal chartering. Representatives from Newport and Reedsport clubs were present to provide encouragement and to help celebrate the accomplishment. Feelings of relief and optimism focused attention on the banquet scheduled for the coming Saturday. An election replaced the provisional officers with Dale Harp, president, Jerry Seed. vice-president, and Boyd Twidwell, secretarytreasurer. Tony Cicerello, Carl Morrison and Frank Suniga completed the board of directors.

Saturday, June 25, 1960 came with excitement. One hundred and twenty-five members, friends, and guests gathered in what The Siuslaw Oar claimed to be the “largest group ever served by the VFW auxiliary”.2 Members of Rotary Clubs in other towns brought gifts to help the new club get started. A total of $325 in cash was reported from clubs in Coos Bay-North Bend, Eugene, Lakeview, Reedsport, Bend, Klamath Falls, Ashland, Corvallis, Springfield, Grants Pass, Medford, Redmond, Port Orford, Myrtle Point and Toledo. The Newport club presented the Rotary bell and gavel, Myrtle Point provided some essential Rotary equipment, and Sweet Home gave a Rotary pin to each member of the new club. 

FIRST BELL & GAVEL  A PRESENT FROM THE THE ROTARY CLUB OF NEWPORT

GETTING IN MOTION

Getting in Motion The first decade 1960-1970 Florence Rotary wasted no time in taking its community responsibilities seriously. Before the first month had elapsed, it joined with the Chamber of Commerce to co-sponsor public appearances by the two candidates for Secretary of State for Oregon. The first was a “no-host” banquet at the American Legion Hall featuring Howell Appling. His views on the Dunes park issue were of particular interest to Florence residents. Reservation could be made for the meeting by calling the Parsons’ Drug phone 28.1 Monroe Sweetland spoke later at a regular Rotary meeting at the Holiday Lodge. Another candidate, Douglas Spencer, appeared at a November meeting in his bid for circuit court judge. It was election year and there was much interest in state and county offices. The club set high standards for programs. Arthur Coit secured the state director of the Oregon Savings Bond Division of the Unites States Treasury Department to speak at the August 15 meeting. Members took turns arranging for programs. This was also a time for informing members about Rotary International. Art Warfield gave what was called a “bell ringer” on the Rotary magazine.2 A few weeks after the club was organized, Ralph Middleton presented a talk on the latest innovation in auto safety: seat belts! 1 Dial telephones arrived in Florence in 1961. 2 From comments made by Cliff Emery at the 25th anniversary of the Florence Rotary Club. Getting in Motion-Draft September 24, 2000

In April 1961, President Dale Harp was asked to make a presentation at the District Conference from the newest club in the district. He was accompanied by Wilbur Ternyik and Frank Suniga. At that conference held in Medford, Harp outlined what was to be the club’s first major community project. Here is an excerpt from that talk: “I’d like to mention briefly one project that we are involved in which is new, and I think is serving this function (encouraging youth in the community to gain a good education). I feel real strongly about this. My classification is education so I am unquestionably biased. We are sponsoring in the community a program that we call C.P.S.R. It is a Community Program for Scholastic Recognition. We are working in cooperation with a group of citizens, actually, (rather) than taking their whole program away from them–it is one they established originally, and we do not wish them to lose their identity. This group…selects top students in the high school and sends them to various things–The two top students in English are sent to the Shakespearean Festival in Ashland–The top boy and the top girl in science…are sent to the Jessie Institute at Oregon State University–The top student in history is sent back east on an American Heritage Tour, and the top music student is sent to Compton, CA to a band program there… In other words, we are…putting an emphasis on good education…The students that are selected are juniors…and come back to the community.”3 The neophyte club demonstrated its commitment to both community service and youth. In February 1961, the club sponsored a film with the proceeds going to C.P.S.R. John Gunther produced the film, “Egypt and Israel” as part of Rotary’s World Understanding Week. This was followed in the spring with a second film, a travelogue. The proceeds went to buy books for the library. The library at that time was located on Bay Street and was open nine hours a week. Its annual circulation averaged about 16,500 books. The event featured slides of a world tour by summer residents of Florence, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Geddes. Geddes was a former California Legislator.

The club soon settled into a routine of meeting each Monday at the Holiday Lodge at Woahink Lake. The drive south took them over the draw bridge section, which at that time still rumbled with timber planking rather than humming with steel girders. The club hosted its first annual visit from a District Governor, Loren Palmerton, in August of 1961 fourteen months from its organizational meeting. By this time, Wilbur Ternyik had won his first of many elections, president of the Florence Rotary Club. Sometime before September 1962, the meetings were moved to Tuesday.

In December of 1961 the club sponsored a Christmas party for the children of the community. The Siuslaw News carried a picture of two Rotarians trying to beat each other to a piece of candy by chewing on the ends of a string as part of the entertainment. In April of 1962 the club took on its biggest project and launched its longest running tradition, the annual auction. The first years all proceeds went to the Community Program for Scholastic Recognition that Dale Harp had described to the District Convention. These fundraisers were first called “Target 21 “or “Target 18,” etc. taking the name from the day in April when they were held. Dale Harp chaired the first auction. A roped off section of the parking lot of the Highway Shopping Center4 provided space for folding chairs and tables for food service. Radio station KRAF broadcast the activities from 10:30 A.M. to 5:00P.M. For a donation, local citizens could take over the mike. The auctions were also referred to as “Scholarship days,” and other groups held fundraisers in conjunction with it. All of the funds raised went to C.P.S.R. That first auction brought in $1090. Social events brought members and families together. In August of 1962, some of the members caught, prepared, and barbecued salmon for their picnic held at the ball-field in Honeyman State Park. The club also provided corn on the cob, rolls, and watermelon; the rest of the picnic was potluck. About fifty attended, including members and their families. A baseball game lasted most of the afternoon; others played badminton and other games.5 The Siuslaw News in 1964, referred to this as “the annual barbecue”. Hank Johnson broke a finger in one of these games.

Jess Young, the fourth president, started his year July 1, 1963 with only 21 members, but was able to raise that number to 23 before ending his term. The club continued to grow over the next five years. Jess was the first to stress the international side of Rotary. He promoted the Rotary Foundation. The district governor called for one hundred per cent participation in the Foundation. This required that the club to contribute $10 per member to the Foundation. A letter from District Governor William C. Jones reported that the club had contributed $170 and urged them to come up with another $20. Based upon the earlier membership of 19 that was all that was needed. But they didn’t make it. The members established a scholarship at Lane Community College for a top student in the vocational/technical field. It bore the name of Arthur Coit, the third president of the club. He died in 1963 just two months after completing his term of office, from complications of a leg amputation from an infection suffered in an accident while working around his home.

A float bearing the Rotary emblem reminded all of the people along the Rhododendron parade route in 1963 that Florence had a lively service club in their midst. Rotary floats appeared in a number of parades.

In the report following his visit to the club in September 1963, DG Jones wrote: “A promising younger club. The members believe in their organization and give support. Florence is strictly a recreational town, population constantly changing, opportunities for growth limited; classifications are difficult to fill. Club has competition in town and is destined because of community circumstances to remain small.”

The district governors for the next couple of years indicated a concern about the club. One said. “The club is standing still at best.” However, under the strong leadership of back-to-back presidents, Al Brauer and Johan Mehlum, things turned around. The membership jumped by 44%. Fining, which has always been a fun part of Rotary had been limited to nickels and dimes. The minimum fine was raised to a quarter. The club officially adopted a goal of 100% participation in the Rotary Foundation. The following year this was raised to 200%. The club presented a stereo console to the Western Lane Hospital Solarium. The stereo was complete with a set of records. Dr. Brauer said that the gift from the club was made “because Rotarians felt that a ‘gift of music’ would be deeply appreciated by the permanent residents of the convalescent wing, some of whom seldom had visitors.”7 The club plunged in a project in 1964, which obviously got them “in over their head,” a swimming pool. A significant effort was made. Voters demonstrated support by approving organizing a recreational district with power to tax. The club believed that all Florence kids should know how to swim. The effort was not successful. Jess Young, during his term, published a monthly newsletter on the school mimeograph. Following his year, it appeared only occasionally until Dr. Brauer re-introduced a regular new letter. A copy of the first one appears below.

The exact date of the first Career Day is not known, but by the mid 1960s, it was well established. It included all of the seniors in Siuslaw High School. Business and professional persons from the club and community presented vocational options to meet the needs of all of the students. This tradition continued for almost thirty years stressing Rotary’s emphasis on Vocations.

The Florence club first banner from another country in was 1967 when J. B. Chang presented one from Taiwan. Mr. Chang, past president of the Taipai club brought greetings from the members of his home club. Al Brauer wrote to the District Governor, “I might add that I am striving to make this club, with strong support from its board members, the most respected, productive community service organization in Western Lane County.” Johan Mehlum continued Brauer’s emphasis on excellence. The membership grew to 36, the largest that it would be during the first decade. Because of his leadership, the District reached out and tapped Johan Mehlum for district responsibilities. He later became the first member of the club to serve on a district committee as chairman of the Membership Committee. District responsibilities presented a particular challenge for people from Florence because the meetings were invariably held at a location requiring hours of travel. In 1967 a recognition dinner held at the Boy Scout Camp honored retiring councilman, Ernie Pickett for outstanding service. This indicated a growing interest in recognizing community leaders. The following January, the club sponsored a First Citizen award. It was to be presented to the person showing outstanding achievement during the past five years. Bud Miles chaired the committee. The first award went to Rotarian Albert Brauer. The other nominees were Bob Read, Ray Grady, Eileen Huntington, Navarre Dunn, Clifford Sanders, Ed Buck, and Blair Sneddon. The panel members who made the selection were all from out of town. The club noted Johan’s 29th birthday during his term as president8. In his closing remarks at the end of his presidency, he talked about the club’s involvement with young people, and the fellowship of the meetings. He said, “…the success of our club during the past twelve months must be attributed to the broad cross-sections of occupations within our membership: business people, doctors, farmers, clergymen, attorneys, educators, etc., possessing all kinds of talents. This is Rotary.” During these first ten years, the club also was involved in International Service by hosting its first Group Study Exchange team. They came from Australia in 1968. The group drew media attention as they visited area schools and businesses. The club advertised for people to become part of the outbound team to Australia and submitted two names to the district, Henry Hazen, a career forester from Deadwood, and Vic Anhoury, owner of a Florence Variety Store, but neither of these nominees made the team.The 1968 Siuslaw High School girl’s track team attracted lots of attention. It had been undefeated for five years. Sports Illustrated acknowledged this feat in presenting a special award to the coach Liz McLain at a club meeting. At that time, the club pledged to Mrs. McLain that they would raise the money necessary to send two members of the Siuslaw team to the NAAU meet in Aurora, CO. Sherry Wells and Mary Jacobson were selected to represent their school. The club later assisted Mary Jacobson in her appearance in the national meet in Dayton, OH. She had set the state record in the track meet with a discus toss of 43′ 1”. A few months later, the Florence Club made the Rotarian in a story featuring Wilbur Ternyik and his and his work beach restoration. A banquet marked the end of the first decade of the Florence Rotary Club. Members and spouses gathered at the Holiday Lodge for steak dinner and to celebrate its first ten years. Christ Strahm was master of  ceremonies for the evening. Ralph Middleton, retiring president, gave a resume of the club’s first ten years. Those ten years included a 44% growth in the City of Florence. The club had grown by 57%, from 21-33. It was firmly established as a force in the community. It had developed a world perspective enhanced by exchange students and participation in the Rotary Foundation. The club was on the move!

1 Dial telephones arrived in Florence in 1961.

2 From comments made by Cliff Emery at the 25th anniversary of the Florence Rotary Club.

3 From a speech given by Dale Hart as part of introducing our club to the District Conference April 10/11,1961. From the minutes of that meeting.

4 Where the Salvation Army is now located.

5 Siuslaw News August 9, 1962

6 From a report in the district archives located in Corvallis, OR.

7 Siuslaw News December 22, 1966.

8 Johan, in a conversation with the writer, claims to have been older than 29.