A History of the
Oshkosh Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Oshkosh began forming in December 1916 when 12 business and professional men began meeting in the basement of the Elks Club. Charles W. Hoyt had come to Oshkosh from Galesburg, IL and told of a national service organization, Rotary, then only 11 years old ( Northwestern, June 26, 1953). On March 1, 1917, the group was chartered and Hoyt became the first president.
Early on the Oshkosh Rotary took on activities that were “ out of the ordinary” and political in nature. From petitioning the bishop not to transfer a popular priest from Oshkosh (1919) to bringing in controversial speakers on prohibition (1927), world peace (1928) & (1952), and the depression (1932), the club brought in a variety of interesting speakers from outside of Oshkosh. The club frequently invited women to attend their programs.
The early Rotarians supported programs with the Oshkosh Normal School (now UW Oshkosh), the Lions Club, the Kiwanis, the Salvation Army, church Youth Programs, Boy Scouts, a dental clinic at the high school and sponsored landscaping and gardening classes. In April of 1925 the Oshkosh Rotary had the third largest attendance at the tenth district annual meeting in Madison.
According to Henry Kimberly, Jr., the club met at the Athearn Hotel in the English Room during the late 1930s and stayed there until it was torn down. The price of meals at that time was .55. When management raised the price of meals to .65, the group moved to the Raulf Hotel/Strand Theater. The Club met at the Grey Fox for a short while and then the Pioneer Resort and Marina in the late 1970s. When the Pioneer closed in 2004, the group moved to Robbins for several months and then to Fratello’s. Meetings are now held at the Park Plaza Hotel.
History in Brief
1918
The first article regarding the club’s activities was printed in the The Daily Northwestern on July 20, 1918.
1929
The largest district conference ever held was hosted by the Oshkosh Rotarians and held at the Athearn Hotel.
1920s
Three members (E.R. Williams, W.E. Bostwick, and Charles Nevitt) of the Oshkosh Rotary Club raised $15,000 to purchase nearly 300 acres of land fronting Twin Lakes in Waushara County and develop a Scout camp (The Northwestern, July 30, 1981).
1939
In 1939 the rotary club defined senior membership as 20 years as a member or being a member for 5 years and past the age of 65. In one of the weekly “Know Oshkosh” segments, it was noted that those attending conventions in Oshkosh spent $8.75/day. In September of that year, the club contributed a motor respirator to the city to aid in drowning cases. Rotary International had 4991 clubs at this time and 209,648 Rotarians. The club had an annual Christmas Ball as early as 1939.
1940
In 1940 the club had 64 members.
1942
The club organized a blood drive in 1942. During World War II, the club urged the purchasing of bonds to support the military. The weekly SPOKES monitored the Rotarians involved in and those passing away during the war.
1945
Upon conclusion of the war, the club supported numerous causes in the mid-1940’s. These include the Boy Scouts, Oshkosh Council of Catholic Women and the American Caner Society. During this time, the club had an annual family picnic. Near the end of the decade, the club struggled with low attendance. Most meetings had attendance of 55-64%.
1950s
During the 1950’s the club supported additional organizations including the YMCA Camp, Badger Boys State and Salvation Army Camps through the District Scholarship Fund. The club also had challenges with the Ripon Rotary Club and Oshkosh Kiwanis. The challenge with the Ripon Club included a bowling tournament.
1960s
The Winneconne Club was organized under sponsorship of the Oshkosh Club (Northwestern March 2, 1967).
1973
A second Rotary Club for Oshkosh was founded in Feb. 1973. According to the Northwestern, “With formation of a second Rotary Club for Oshkosh, it was reported by [John] Hendrickson that the boundary line for charter membership in the new service club will be Oregon Street south and Wisconsin Street north.” (February 27, 1973).
1970s
The Green Bay Rotary Club founded the Grandfather’s Club, and the Oshkosh Rotary holds Charter #2.
1981
Camp Twin Lakes was dedicated on July 30, 1981. Camp Twin Lakes was redeveloped with $462,358 in capital campaign funds raised by five districts: Oshkosh, Marquette, Mascoutin, Waupaca, and Waushara. There are now 400 acres of forest and prairie land complete with campsite, trails, picnic areas and lakefront for Cub and Webelo camping and Scout and Explorer wilderness and winter camping (Northwestern July 30, 1981).
1986
In June 1986, membership enjoyed the highest increase ever-- from 98 to 107 new members.
The Eye Saver Program (Bob Schoenwetter) started a super program that has been adopted as part of the district world Community Service Programs. Our club responded by giving up a meal and raising a total of $1,750 to conduct eye camps in India. (John Wiley, Spokes June 1986).
1987
In 1987, the first women were inducted into the Club. Sponsored by Gary Yakes, they include: Kathleen Propp, Roberta Messer, Leona Staple, and Catherine Zimmerman.
1987-1992
Rotary Anniversary dinners were held annually in early March from 1987 – 1992. Guest speakers included Paul Poberezny, Henry Timm, Leona & Carl Staple, Elmer Harvey & Rocky Daehler, and Herb Schwomeyer, among others. During the 1992 program, we celebrated our 75th anniversary.
1989
Oshkosh Rotary Club joined about 24,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide in its Polio Plus program, which aims to eradicate polio (Oshkosh Northwestern, March 16, 1992).
1990
Kathleen Propp was elected President for the 1990-1991 Rotary year. Edwin Downing and Robert Schoenwetter make up the committee.
1993-1999
EAA Housing fund raiser established (single 25-20/night; double $40-45/night)
Organized by the Oshkosh Recreation Department, Service Club Terrifics (originally called the Olympics) were held through the 1990s. Oshkosh Rotary Club usually won the multi-event competition between other Oshkosh Service Clubs.
2000-Present
Peru Project - As a result of a series of visits between members of the Oshkosh Rotary Club and La Molina Vieja Rotary Club in Lima Peru, a formal sister club relationship was established and the resulting joint international service projects became known as Project Peru.
Oshkosh Southwest Rotary joined in supporting the effort, that over the years has assisted in the development CORPAN, the LaMolina Rotary Community Service Center, the construction at the Community of Children Sacred Family orphanage of a new dormitory, has provided computers for a Lima trade school, and currently supports the operation of two Soy Cows that provide nutrition to the poor of the community. Citizen exchanges and visits have been a vital part of Project Peru with well over a hundred Rotarians, students, teachers and citizens having visited Peru. The Oshkosh clubs have also hosted several district governors from Peru as well as visiting Rotarians. Through the leadership of the club Rotary District 6270 has twice provided Hydrocephalic Valves for infants and children at Liam's Children's Hospital.
2000-2003
Spearheaded by the three Rotary Clubs in Oshkosh, a fund campaign to raise $30,000 to place a clock tower in downtown Oshkosh, in Opera House Square began in August 2002. This constituted the 3 Rotary Clubs’ gift to the Oshkosh’s Sesquicentennial 2003 celebration and was achieved under the co-chairpersonship of Dick Campbell and Lynne Webster. A total of $35,363 was raised from 204 donors, with 86% of our club contributing to the Rotary Clock Fund. The clock was dedicated and presented to the city of Oshkosh on June 18, 2003.
2006
Oshkosh Rotary Club receives the Rotary's Presidential Citation Award.
2004-2007
Delivering over 936,000 servings of vitally needed protein rich soy milk to the very young and old over the past three years the Oshkosh Rotary Clubs mechanical Soy Cow in La Molina Peru is making a difference in the community and in the nation of Peru.
The project is the result of a unique partnership lead by Southwest Oshkosh Rotary and supported by the downtown Oshkosh Rotary club and the La Molina Vieja Rotary club in Lima Peru and works in cooperation with the municipality of La Molina.
On May 17, 2007 a second soy cow was dedicated in the municipality of Ate by a team of five Oshkosh Rotarians. This "cow" along with a second cow planned for La Molina by the end of the year will raise the number served daily to over 3,500. |
