The following letter from Larry is being shared by Jennifer Jirak-Brungardt.
I remember Rotary back then. In 1963 when I joined Rotary, Omaha Rotary included only 2 clubs, the Omaha Rotary Club (1512) and the West Club (1955), meeting at the Hilltop House, 49th & Dodge. The long-established Omaha Rotary Club met weekly on Wednesday at noon in the hotel Fontenelle’s Ballroom, 18th & Douglas, it was “coat and tie.” You signed in. And if you dared to leave before 1:20. you were saddled with a fine, there was singing, some jokes and fines from the secretary, and a speaker often of national or regional repute. The atmosphere was like a brother’s reunion. The motto then was “He profits most who serves best.” Most important for many was perfect attendance.
Weekly Executive Director Elsie Swagun sent out an informative “Rotary Wheel Bulletin.”It involved personal items like make up’s, a note on last week’s talk and the net meeting and topic, etc. And tributes to any passed on, no advertising. Women? Elsie was the long one. Remember that Rotary didn’t admit women until 1988. Eugene Eppley, hotel owner, provided an office at the Fontenelle and Elsie ruled the roost.
The two clubs made a stab at recruiting areas in town, but it was ignored. In 1995 however, when Suburban was organized the South Club, Rotary International. and the District had every club in town pass a directive of sharing all of Douglas County before granting a charter.
Every Rotary organization included Omaha in a big district-The Dakotas, much of Nebraska and Iowa. With Rotary’s growth, in 1939 District 5650 was settled like it is now. Since then, Suburban has provided the most District governors of any club (counting from our charter date of 1967), plus Howard Vann, Rotary International Vice President and Frank Goldberg, a Director as well. In Rotary, smaller towns could have problems with classification. The town had two pharmacists, for example. Only one owner could join. My classification in 1963 was “additional active.” (J. Gordon Roberts, Robert’s Dairy, was the Active) Now that road block is history and classifications can include subfields.
A “Golden Thread” ran through Rotary Clubs. There was the foundation to support, and then the fun part, participation. That hasn’t changed. The downtown club rang bells, for one, but in downtown. Now streets and sidewalk traffic has moved westward for us, but there are still many meeting options.
Yes, since 1905 Rotary has changed…. for the better, stiff attendance rules have bent to today’s schedules. Attire at meetings represents what you wear to work. Diversity has changed things too. The inclusion of leaders in business and the professions from different cultures and this has enhanced our view of the world and service.
Yet that new Rotary still matches the more recent motto” Service Above Self.” Technically, we belong to our club, It’s the club which belongs to Rotary International. Who cares? We can wear that pin proudly for the service it represents anyway. It has been 60 years ago (in July) that the pin first was presented to me, downtown. Today “Eli” carries on, the third generation. (Both grandfathers, Downtown Rotarians, my dad in 1928). I’m glad the Board allows me to continue membership under rule 8s, as well. I hope some of this is interesting to you. History of a great organization and some about the best Rotary Club, going strong, Suburban.
Here’s to Rotary, now in it’s 118th year, and to you-
Larry McNichols
P.D. G. (1998-1999)
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