Elk River Rotary

Celebrates 50th Anniversary

“Service Above Self"

by Don Hienzman

This is the International Rotary motto guiding the Elk River Rotary Club that has met weekly for 50 years to enrich the lives of its members and residents of the community.

On June 17, they celebrated its 50^th anniversary at a dinner at Rockwoods Restaurant, where the program featured the highlights of the last 50 years. Former Rotarians came to celebrate.

The Elk River Rotary club of 48 business and professional members is among 1.2 million Rotarians serving communities in 160 countries. The club is one of 66 in the District 5960 and 33,000 in the world.

Its structure includes four avenues of service.

Club: Promotes the development of the club and its members.

Community: Develops projects that improve the community, with particular emphasis on helping children, needy families, the aged, the handicapped and those in need of assistance.

Vocational: Promotes high ethical standards in business and professions.

International: Promotes understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons.

Elk River Rotary was sponsored by the Monticello Rotary Club in 1960 when Con Johnson met with Walter “Mag” Johnson and Bob Kemper and challenged them to find 23 business and professional men and start a Rotary Club.

Organizers submitted a roster of 23 charter members (see separate listing.)

On June 7, 1960, these men were admitted into Rotary International, and on June 15 of that year 300 people attended a celebration when the official charter was presented.

The first president was Dr. Charles Zinn, who lives in Florida.The club’s 50^thpresident is Robert Maxwell.

Over those 50 years, the Elk River Rotary Club has accomplished major projects for the community and its residents.

Early on, the club supported the American Field Service program which brought to Elk River high school students from foreign countries and later promoted and helped finance Elk River high school student trips to foreign lands.

For years, its main fund-raiser was a popular annual pancake breakfast, begun in 1962. Since then the club has raised funds through sponsoring tournaments, selling brats at the county fair, selling corn on the cob at the July 4^th celebration, sponsoring a circus selling roses in the fall, and the latest, sponsoring a golf tournament. One cold day in August, it brought popular country star singer Janie Frickie to sing, with proceeds going to quicken planning to widen Highway 101.

The biggest fund raiser, the “Taste of Elk River”, was launched five years ago, under the leadershipofTom McNair.Funds have been used to complete the rennovationof Handke Stadium, to buy an $18,000 walk-in freezer for CAER food shelf and finance a scenic overlook, part of the city’s River Walk plan..

The first major project was building a bandshell in Lions Park at a cost of $27,000completed in 1992.The biggest accomplishment, however, was raising .$260,000,to repair the stone work on the walls and warming house and to restore much of the charm of the ElkHi stadium where the football team played.

The club has dedicated $60,000 to pay for the scenic overlook, which is part of phase one of the River Walk project.

Each month the club recognizes the Sophomore Student of the Month, selects students for Camp Enterprise, and donates money for a high school scholarship.

In the past it has donated money for Paul Harris Fellowships, donated money to the Boy Scouts, the Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

Inspired by one of its members, Les Anderson, the club has donated thousands of dollars for Polio Plus, an International initiative to eradicate polio in the world.Anderson had polio as a teenager.

Ever since 1994, the club under the direction of Tom McNair has adopted a stretch of the Elk River from the dam to the Mississippi River by cleaning up the banks and the river, pulling up 5,000 pounds of stuff.

When Rotary International decided to admit women to the club, it welcomed Rin Rich in 1988, and in 1997, Julie Fish became its first female president.

Attendance at Rotary meetings is stressed.Two members, Robert Kemper and Les Anderson, had perfect attendance records: Kemper, 28 and ½ years and Anderson, 26 years.

In 1998, the club sponsored its only Group Study Exchange Member, Paul Bell who spent five weeks in the state of Gujarat, India.

McNair is enthusiastic about the club’s progress:“You can see a need or have a desire to do something for the community and the club can make it happen.”

Original 23 charter members:Dr. Jo Anderson, Enook Bjuge, George Dietz, Milton Dwyer, Walter “Mag” Johnson, Archie Larson, Dr. W. T. Palmer, Michael Watzke, Albert H. Bailey, Peter A.Bouley, Pat Donahue, Father Richard Grein.

Mike Korfiatis, Lars Larson, Ken Parker, Dr. Charles Zinn, John Bailey, Robert Dare, Ed Dreissig, Jack Hetrick, Robert Kemper, Donald Morris and Deane Sampson.