The
Joseph A. Caulder Collection
Past Rotary International Director 1928-29
- Regina, Sask., Canada
"Eyewitness to Rotary International's First 50 Years"
JOSEPH A. CAULDER - An eyewitness to Rotary International's first 50 years.
Quotes of Past R.I. Presidents - A Centennial Series
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As you know, RI recently published a small booklet titled: "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents." I think this interesting little book should be put to its intended use so I will try to periodically post to this and other Rotary lists quotes of Past RI Presidents, taken from the RI publication: "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents", as well as some additional information about the Past President. GLEN C. MEAD, RI PRESIDENT 1912-13 In 1912-13, Glenn C. Mead (law), Rotary Club of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. served as the second President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision was "Business as a means toward world betterment and a catalyst for world peace." "A business house should be as public-spirited as a citizen . . . . Business is not a beast of prey, but the handmaid of civilization and progress." Glen C. Mead from "Code or Creed?", THE ROTARIAN, July 1921 In a letter dated January 10, 1951, Glen C. Mead wrote to past RI Director Joe Caulder, relating to him some of the things that occurred during the 1912-13 Rotary year. In that letter, Past President Mead said: "Getting this new and exceedingly novel organization properly on its way took all of our thought and time; we were not thinking much about other countries. But a real surprise awaited us in Duluth [at the 1912 Convention] where we found a fine delegation of five members from the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Canada - our own grand neighbor, Canada! I am bound to confess that this for the first time opened my eyes to the possibility of Rotary's spreading to other English speaking countries. However, we quickly caught the happy inspiration and changed our name from "National" to "International". . . . "The outstanding feature of [the 1913 Buffalo] Convention was the presence of five delegates from the Britain and Ireland Clubs, namely, Charles H. Dewey of London, Peter Thomason of Manchester, Alexander Wilkie of Edinburgh, Captain E. J. Heilbron of Glasgow and John Sheridan of Dublin. These men captured the Convention and appeared to be having the time of their lives. At the concluding banquet, John Sheridan sang beautifully "We are off for Philadelphia in the mornin’", which of course delighted our Philadelphia delegation. We could never forget these men and how mightily their presence and personalities helped to bind us to our fellows across the seas. Yes, Rotary had become international in the truest sense and of that there was no longer any doubt." SECOND IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication"100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1913-14,
Russell F. Greiner (banking), Rotary Club of Kansas City,
Missouri, USA, served as Rotary’s third President. His Rotary vision was
"That it might help to establish a Golden Rule of business throughout the
world." "What constitutes a successful man? He must possess these qualifications: honesty, ability, initiative, enthusiasm, tact and sincerity." - Inaugural Address, 1913 Rotary Convention, Buffalo, New York, USA In a letter dated July 6, 1951, Russell F. Greiner wrote to past RI Director Joe Caulder, relating to him some of the things that occurred during the 1913-14 Rotary year. In that letter, Past President Greiner wrote: "It was during my administration that Ches Perry disposed of his business interest and became a full, instead of a part time, Secretary. If nothing else had happened, that alone was a great accomplishment. Regardless of what everyone may think, that move alone made Rotary a success. To my mind he has made the greatest contribution to making Rotary click that any man living or dead." FOURTH IN THE SERIES: QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication"100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1915-16, Allen D. Albert of the Rotary Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota, served as RI President. His Rotary vision: Development of the individual Rotarian to become his 'best self' in service to others. "Rotary summons men to respond to their best impulses. ..their best selves... [to] lift up their heads in every land. The best things in us are not confined by national boundaries. " - The Tree That Is Rotary, THE ROTARIAN, December 1934 In a letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder dated January 3, 1951, Past President Albert recalled the early days of the organization. Allen Albert wrote: "I joined the Minneapolis Rotary in 1911. That club was Number Nine. The clubs were all smaller than those of the same cities now; acquaintance was easier and more general within each club; the fun was noisier; and business exchange was reckoned by a club officer called the "Statistician" . . . . "The first intimation that those objectives were insufficient came to me as a delegate to the third convention of the clubs, held in Duluth in 1912. Such assemblies were small in those days in those days. . . . "In a talk to the Duluth conference, one evening, I expressed our pulling away from the business exchange by outlining a play that had impressed me deeply -- "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" by Henry Arthur Jones. The chief character in a ratty London rooming house lifts the company of mean spirited floaters into a new life of kindliness, charity, good will by manifesting his faith that each of them would surely express the best that was in him. With such a spirit, I suggested, Rotary could make itself unique. . . . "Next year at Buffalo was held the first truly international convention of Rotary, with a delegation from the British Isles as well as one from Canada. New men attended and became prominent -- Russell Greiner, Frank Mulholland, Guy Gundaker and Harry Stanley, who was a vice-president. "To me was assigned a key position on the program at Buffalo; I was told it was because of the principle I had voiced at Duluth. The subject assigned me was the awesome one of "The True Meaning, Purpose and Ideals of Rotary." Naturally I was fearful. Could I have known what President Mead would say in his opening address I would have been reassured; for he stood squarely on a platform of idealism. "In substance I argued: Rotary will live through the individual lives of Rotarians. Sound business success is to be gained in the open highways of service through one's business, not through the alleys and purlieus of an unearned patronage. The test of a man's idealism is his sincerity. Rotary will have useful life only as it stirs its members to express their professions of idealism in their daily lives. . . . "My year [as president of RI] was directed mainly to inspiring men with the ideal of service. We eliminated the "statistician." We urges Rotarians to express the ideal of service in their homes, their classifications, their communities, their churches." FIFTH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication"100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1916-17 Arch C. Klumph of the Rotary Club of Cleveland, Ohio, USA. served as Rotary International. His Rotary vision: An endowment to fund the association's good works into perpetuity. The result: The Rotary Foundation. "The Rotary Foundation is not to build monuments of brick and stone. If we work upon marble, it will perish; if we work on brass, time will efface it; if we rear temples they will crumble into dust; but if we work upon immortal minds, if we imbue them with the full meaning of the spirit of Rotary as expressed in our Objects and with the just fear of God and love of our fellowmen, we are engraving on those tablets something that will brighten all eternity." - The Rotary Foundation, THE ROTARIAN, April 1929 In a letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder dated January 9, 1951, Past President Arch Klumph, known to most Rotarians as the "Father of The Rotary Foundation," recalled his early days of the organization. Arch wrote: "From testimonials made to me during recent years by men who were in the Rotary movement from 1905 to 1910, and particularly one from whom I have received the most information (who was on of the first four members), I have learned there was no thought of any idealism in the Rotary movement until the Sheldon motto [He Profits Most Who Serves Best]. I can testify that when I was invited to become a member of the Cleveland Club, I was approached by Captain Arthur Rogers (afterwards a distinguished army officer and who is now buried in Arlington Cemetery), and I asked him just what was the purpose of this club and he immediately answered: ‘Good fellowship and every member is expected to patronize a fellow Rotarian whenever purchasing anything in his line.’ I confess that I fell for it. I was struggling hard in 1911 to build up a large and profitable business and I could see many possibilities in this compulsory business between fellow members. But the truth is that I never got any business through this principle - - - neither did more that a few other members gain anything in a business -way through Rotary membership." SIXTH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1917-18, E. Leslie Pidgeon of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, was the President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Unity of thought and purpose as a means to world understanding and peace. "There is no growth unaccompanied by growing pains... peace is a universal fact which can only be realized in the fullness of the days... the ultimate achievement of spirit will be at the end of a long and painful process." - Christmas Message, THE ROTARIAN, December 1917 Leslie Pidgeon was the first RI President of Rotary from outside the United States. He was a clergyman, once the pastor of the Erskine and American United Church, recognized then as one of the strongest Protestant Churches in Canada. Upon his death, he was memorialized The Rotarian in the April 1946 article written by Allen D. Albert, the third RI President in 1915-16 (the article is in the historical papers of Past RI Director Joe Caulder). Here is a little that was written in the article about E. Leslie Pidgeon. "Leslie was the seventh of the seven early Presidents privileged to give form and voice to Rotary. We other six all loved him. "He openly admired Paul Harris, the Founder, for his openmindedness. He confirmed the work of Glenn Mead, who federated the Clubs into a unity. He and Russell Greiner were alike extenders of Rotary and Leslie recognized the resoluteness of the third President. "Like President Frank Mulholland he had a talent for financial administration. From the latter came the setup wherewith Rotary International need never have a bill it cannot pay. Through three years as a Director and one year as President, Leslie upheld and strengthened that plan. Likewise he took from President Arch Klumph a widening of Rotary activities, a favor of the fine arts, an expansion into Latin America, as phases of progress he must maintain. "This is not the all of Leslie Pidgeon. He had in his personality something of the intrepid voyageurs, something of the monks of the Middle Ages poring over their scholarship, something of the goodness and lovableness of the early fathers of the church." SEVENTH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1918-19, John Poole of the Rotary Club of Washington, D.C., USA, was President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Rotarians as the builders of the postwar world, through their influence and their vocations. "Quick and complete employment is both a sword and a shield. That's why every possible line of industrial and agricultural activity should ring with new life. This is Rotary's opportunity." - Presidents Annual Message, THE ROTARIAN, August 1919 EIGHTH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1919-20 Albert S. Adams of the Rotary Club of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, served as President Of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To make Rotary friendship and fellowship a living force in the world at large. "Friendship. ..the craving for which brought Rotary into existence is the thing that will keep Rotary a living, vital force in the world for all time, the very foundation of our organization." - Address to 1920 Rotary Convention, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA Past Rotary International Joseph A. Caulder, in his collection on past RI Presidents, wrote of Albert Adams: "Dear, kind, loving Bert Adams of Atlanta. Georgia. Bert was our 9th President 1919-1920. . . . He was a real southern gentleman and his beautiful wife Hortense was a real southern gentlewoman. . . . In 1920 our 19th District Conference was held at Calgary, Alberta, and Bert was the Board representative and of course President of the International Association of Rotary Clubs. Hortense was with him also two of his children. It was in March and Calgary had snow. The children had never seen snow before so filled their coat pockets and told their mother they were going to take it home with them. We had a great conference; in fact, it had to be great with Bert Adams there. . . . . Bert passed away at an early age on December 31st, 1926." NINTH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1920-21, Estes Snedecor of the Rotary Club of Portland, Oregon, USA, served as Rotary International President. His Rotary vision: "To make its teachings a guiding principle and vitalizing force in the lives of men everywhere." "Every Rotary club should be made a forum before which vital economic and social problems may be fairly and intelligently discussed. Club programs should stimulate thought, widen the horizon, and deepen conviction." - The Program for the Year, THE ROTARIAN, August 1920 In a letter to Past RI Director Joseph A. Caulder dated January 8, 1951, Past President Snedecor related "four outstanding contributions" during his year as RI President: first, the successful holding of the first RI Convention outside North America in Edinburgh, Scotland; second, the adoption of the Fourth Object of Rotary at the 1921 Edinburgh Convention; third, the assignment of Jim Davidson and Layton Ralston, both from Canada, as Special Commissioners to organize Rotary clubs in Australia and New Zealand; fourth, the election of Crawford McCullough as President of RI for 1921-22. TENTH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1921-22, Dr. Crawford C. McCullough, Rotary Club of Fort William, Ontario, Canada, served as Rotary’s 11th President and the second RI President from Canada. His Rotary vision: Applying the organization's simplicity and sincerity of purpose to service worldwide. "There is nothing intangible about Rotary: It is reality itself. To give is to receive; to lose oneself is to find oneself; to be happy is to serve, These are old truths. . .for the individual. . . and the mass, whether application be in the exchange of goods, toil, knowledge, or love." - The Meaning of Rotary, THE ROTARIAN, November 1921 In his collection on early Rotary history, Past R. I. Director Joseph A. Caulder wrote: "I succeeded Jack Davies as Governor in 1921-22 and I was proud and lucky to serve during Crawford's year as International President. . . . He goes down in history as one of the best. He served as President during an important period in Rotary's development. It was a year of legislation. The convention (1922) adopted the new Constitution and By-Laws of International Rotary also adopted a Standard Club Constitution and By-Laws; also authorized the organization of Rotary International Association for Great Britain and Ireland, changed the name of the International Association of Rotary Clubs to plain "Rotary International" and many more important pieces of legislation." ELEVENTH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1922-23, Raymond M. Havens of Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA, served as R.I.'s 12th President. His Rotary vision: Vocational ethics, as practiced by Rotarians, as the building blocks of world civilization. "As a harbinger of business ethics, Rotary sends its message around the world that true service means personal responsibility for 'peace on earth and goodwill toward men.'" - Bethlehem - and Twenty Centuries, THE ROTARIAN, December 1922. In his collection on early Rotary history, Past R. I. Director Joseph A. Caulder wrote: "I was able to induce Ray and Gladys to attend my District Conference in Regina in the spring of 1922. I can . . . still see Gladys at the piano and Ray singing as only he could. They were a happy pair and it is sad to think he had to go on December 2nd, 1934 at such a young age. . . It would be a grand world if we only had enough men like Ray Havens." 12th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1923-24, Guy Gundaker, Rotary Club of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. served as the 13th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To help establish ethical business practices worldwide. "Ethical conduct of business, emphasized and spread throughout the world, will greatly diminish the inclination and disposition on the part of the peoples of the different nations to fight one another." -Address to 1924 Rotary Convention, Toronto, Ontario, Canada In his collection on early Rotary history, Past R. I. Director Joseph A. Caulder wrote: "Guy, during his year as President, as well as before and after, did a great job in writing "Codes of Ethics" for business and professions of all kinds. Before his work perhaps only Doctors and lawyers had recognized "Codes of Ethics". When Guy finished his job he had helped to write over 125 codes. The good resulting can only be guessed at but no doubt was very real." 13th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1924-25 Everett W. Hill of the Rotary Club of Shawnee, Oklahoma, USA, served as the 14th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To show the world a high example of unselfish service. "The greatest thing one finds in one's travels, the soul-satisfying thing, is that [people] in their native countries all weep with the same spirit, the same feeling, the same happiness and contentment." - Why the Convention?, THE ROTARIAN, January 1925 In his collection on early Rotary history, Past R. I. Director Joseph A. Caulder saved a letter written to him by Past R.I. President Everett Hill wrote: "Probably the greatest single achievement of my year in connection with Rotary's interest in Boys Work was the Boys Work Conference which was held in Chicago in December of 1924. This conference attracted the attention of all straight-line organizations for boys and organizations interested in welfare of boys. It was the first time that anything of this kind had ever been held and there were 400 delegates representing 55 different organizations" 14th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In the 1925-26 Rotary year, Donald A. Adams of Rotary Club of New Haven, Connecticut, USA. served as the 15th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Keeping the Rotary movement a spiritual force for improvement of world conditions and encouragement of world understanding. "Primarily Rotary seeks to apply the theory of service to business and community life.. ..This is expressed in the first part of our code of ethics: To consider my vocation worthy and as affording me a distinct opportunity to serve society. He Profits Most Who Serves Best is a less ideal expression, but the suggestion of egoism is removed by the added words, Service Above Self." -Address to 1926 Rotary Convention, Denver, Colorado, USA In his collection on early Rotary history, Past R. I. Director Joseph A. Caulder saved a letter written to him by Past R.I. President Donald Adams in which the Past President related to Joe some of the high points of his presidential year. In the February 7, 1951 letter, Past President Adams wrote: "[D]uring the year preceding my administration I had been on the Board and served as Chairman of the finance committee. I was familiar with all of the various funds and accounts and as a result almost the first thing I did after my election was to ask Arch Klumph to come to Chicago. I said to him, in effect, that he was the father of the Rotary endowment fund and that it wasn't doing anything or going anywhere. It had no sufficient aims or objectives and I told him it was my belief that it ought to be entirely remodeled and revitalized or abandoned. I asked him to go home and do some work on the problem, and the result was that the Rotary endowment fund became the Rotary Foundation at the Minneapolis convention. I am sure I don't deserve or desire any commendation for this but I did put the spurs to this enterprise so that it got started on a more profitable course." 15th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication "100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1926-27, Harry H. Rogers, a lawyer from the Rotary Club of San Antonio, Texas, USA served as Rotary International’s 16th President. His Rotary vision: Making its Object effective - personally, in the community, and worldwide. "Let the slogan this year be Make Rotary Effective. Where it exists, make its influence felt. Where it does not exist, if possible, extend it. Let courtesy abound, widen acquaintance, intensify friendships, and put the program over in every club." -Address to 1927 Rotary Convention, Ostend, Belgium In a handwritten letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder, dated January
19, 1951, Past President Rogers set forth a summary of the things he felt
Rotary had accomplished during the 1926-27 year. In the last item in his
letter, he said: "Brought back Paul Harris more or less out of seclusion. He
visited much of Southwest U.S. and Mexico, as well as Cuba and Bermuda. He
was always active after this year and he was a great inspiration
everywhere." It is interesting to note that although the RI Official Directory does not list "Themes" prior to the 1949-50 Rotary year, Harry Rogers had a Presidential slogan or theme during his year as RI President in 1925-26. "Make Rotary Effective" appears in most of Harry Rogers' writings, including in the letter to Joe Caulder, which he starts off by saying: "Our slogan was "Make Rotary Effective." These same words were used in 1967-68 by RI President Luther H. Hodges when he encouraged Rotarians to "Make Your Rotary Membership Effective." 16th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1927-28 Arthur H. Sapp, a lawyer from the Rotary Club of Huntington, Indiana, USA served as Rotary International’s 17th President. His Rotary vision: To encourage adoption of a Rotary-inspired code of ethics in business and professions everywhere. "It is idle to boast that Rotary is a panacea for all the ills of the world. It is not, nor will it be. It has grown to its present position for two reasons. First, Rotary ideals justify its existence. These ideals are as fresh today as they were in the beginning and I believe that we have come to understand them better. Also, Rotary activities have been sane and wholesome. Men's lives have been quickened into a zeal to be helpful to others. The work of Rotary has been ideal. It has been practical." -- Address to 1928 Rotary Convention, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA RI Presidents - each and every one of them - are human beings who sometimes make mistakes. Usually very little is heard of the mistakes, but occasionally it is refreshing just to step and smile at little blunders made in Rotary's history. One such blunder was recorded by Past RI Director Joseph A. Caulder in his collection of material about Rotary’s first 50 years. In his remembrance of RI President Arthur Sapp, Joe Caulder wrote: "Arthur was Rotary's 17th President. We roomed together in Chicago at the
1928 Assembly. Arthur was a man with very high standards of personal
conduct. He pulled a real boner when in England in 1927 after being elected President of R.I. at Ostend a few days earlier. A large party of Rotarians visited Stratford-on-Avon, the birthplace of Wm. Shakespeare and the town or City Council tendered a banquet in honour of Arthur and his officers. In speaking at the dinner he said he was surprised that the town of Stratford-on-Avon could have produced the peerless Shakespeare. This was a horrible boner and to square it, Ches. Perry, when he was called on for a few words said, ‘The wonder is that the town of Huntington, Indiana could produce a President of Rotary International.’ This saved the day." When he passed away unexpectedly in 1946, his predecessor Harry Rogers wrote in The Rotarian: "Then, during his year as President, he carried his mission a long step further. It was during his term, incidentally, that the first Rotary Club in Germany was chartered, at Hamburg. Wherever he went, whether among the kings and premiers of Europe or the farmers of his own Midwest, he was at ease, and raveled in the joys of fellowship. As a public speaker, Arthur Sapp had few equals. At the council table his judgment was excellent. Just last Spring at a Rotary Conference in St. Louis, he told me his year as President had been his greatest and his thanks were due to Rotarians who had given him this opportunity." 17th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1928-29, I. B. "Tom" Sutton of the Rotary Club of Tampico, Tamaulipas, Mexico, was Rotary International's 18th President. His Rotary vision: To hold the good of the organization's past in reverence, as it climbs to higher usefulness in the future. "Untold blessings have come... with the conquering of disease and the lengthening of life, but have we stopped to consider the wonderful growth of understanding... the expanding kindliness and goodness in our social relationships? These have come with a very natural desire to enjoy a higher and higher plane of civilization." -Address to 1929 Rotary Convention, Dallas, Texas, USA In a letter to Past Rotary International Director Joseph A. Caulder, dated August 15, 1951, Past RI President Tom Sutton shared with Joe Caulder an outstanding event that occurred during his year as President: "I have visited and taken part in a great many Rotary gatherings, club meetings, intercity meetings, assemblies, conferences and conventions but the outstanding meeting of them all in my thirty years of experience in Rotary was the Second Pacific Rotary Conference, held in Tokyo, Japan, October 1-4, 1928. From the moment the several steamers docked at Yokohama and Kobe, the reception and attention to the visitors during their stay in Japan was truly remarkable. Large and representative delegations of all of the countries surrounding the Pacific were in attendance. His Imperil Highness Price Kuni, Prime Minister Baron Tanaka, other ministers and many notables honored the conference with their presence. A total of 534 were seated at the grand banquet in the famous Imperial Hotel. Past International Director Umekichi Yoneyama, Chairman of the Board of the vast Mitsui Trust Company presided and he was, in fact, the father of the Rotary movement in Japan. In the month I was in that area I visited all the Rotary Clubs in Japan, Korea and Manchuria and came away with a great many close friendships I shall always treasure." 18th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1929-30 M. Eugene Newsom of the Rotary Club of Durham, North Carolina, USA, was the 19th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To keep it simple enough that the average Rotarian can apply its principles to daily life. "Real genuine friendship and the laws governing friendships provide the truest basis for all forms of enterprise. If Rotary can materially contribute to the development of friendship between individuals, businesses, professions, and nations, and if the individual is willing to make friendship the basis of his job or vocation, then we have an ideal of service being applied in ways that should make all of us happy." - What Constitutes Vocational Service?, THE ROTARIAN, November 1927 In THE ROTARIAN in November, 1948 issue, Past RI President Gene Newsom, who passed away September 18, 1948, was remembered. The article said in past: "That year of "Gene's" as President it was one of the most jubilant in Rotary's history. It marked the 25th year of the movement's founding and when 11,019 people from 63 nations poured into Chicago, Illinois, for the Silver Anniversary Convention, they set a record for Convention size which stood until 1947. The smiling man with the gavel there on the Convention platform was Gene Newsom, exhorting the throng to Search ‘in the foundational fiber of our institution for those elements upon which the future structure can be built with permanency.’" 19th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1930-31, Almon E. Roth, Rotary Club of Palo Alto, California, USA, was the 20th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Development of a central administration with provision for both autonomy and cooperation of club and district. "Our success or failure will not depend upon the machinery of Rotary or its physical growth, but upon the extent to which Rotary's ideals or objectives are translated into positive, tangible results in personal, business, community, and international life. We shall be known by our works." - The Second Quarter Century, THE ROTARIAN, July 1930 In THE ROTARIAN in March, 1964 issue, Past RI President Al Roth, who passed away January 1, 1964, was remembered. The article said in part: "The stock-market crash of 1929 was only nine months behind us and the Great Depression was deepening around the world when ‘Al’ became our President. The troubled times tested his leadership, but he brought us through and at the end of his year presided over the successful Vienna Convention with charm and distinction. As thousands learned in Vienna, ‘Al’ was a friendly man and his life has been characterized as ‘one grand and glorious adventure in friendship’" 20th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1931-32 Sydney W. Pascall of the Rotary Club of London, England, was the 21 st President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To achieve an international unity for the organization, making it one family of Rotarians."We are all Rotarians. There is only one family of us... .Kipling said, 'East is East and West is West, and ne'er the twain shall meet.' We do not recognize that in Rotary. We realize that Kipling spoke the truth when at the end of that poem he said For there is neither East nor West, Border, nor breed, nor birth, When two strong men stand face to face, Though they come from the ends of the earth." -Address to 1931 Rotary Convention, Vienna, Austria Joe Caulder was a friend of Sydney Pascall and he remembered him in this memories album: "He was a candy manufacturer with world-wide distribution. He served both R.I. and R.I.B.I. well. He had, for many years, been a regular visitor to Canada as his firm had important business connections in Canada. We were in England in 1949 and called Sidney on the phone and had a long chat but arranged to meet in London and carry on our discussions when we returned from the Continent. Unfortunately Sidney passed away suddenly on August 4th and we got back too late. He was a kindly, forthright, gentleman." 21st IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents" In 1932-33 Clinton P. Anderson of the Rotary Club of Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA., served as Rotary International’s 22 nd President. His Rotary vision: Helping to create a world without barriers to cooperation and understanding."Science has broken down the barriers between people, but that merely accentuates our problems, particularly those which arise out of misunderstandings, unless there is also a spiritual growth. For every shortening of the distance between peoples there must be a broadening of human sympathies." -New Year-New Thinking, THE ROTARIAN, January 1933 After serving as Rotary International President, Clinton P. Anderson went on to serve in many important positions in the government of the State of New Mexico and in the government of the United States. Among his posts were Secretary of Agriculture of the State of New Mexico, a U.S. Congressman during World War II, Secretary of Agriculture of the United States immediately after World War II and then as a United States Senator. On January 5, 1951, while serving in the United States Senate, he wrote a letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder outlining some of the important things that happened during 1932-33 when Anderson served as RI President. Here, in his words, is one of those things As I think back over things now, one of the most important things that happened was the decision of Adolph Hitler soon after he obtained power in Germany to bar non-Aryans from membership in the 40 Rotary Clubs of Germany. That decision came while I was attending the R.I.B.I. conference in England and since his action gave some time for further consideration I was able to deal with it. He had told the Rotary Club that unless at their District Conference in the next few days they passed a resolution barring all non-Aryans from membership in the Rotary Club, he would compel them to disband all the clubs. Since a few days would intervene I cabled to the District Governor of Rotary and to several German Club Presidents notifying them that if they did take that action at the District Conference I would cancel the charters of the 40 German Rotary Clubs. They cabled me back asking for my authority to cancel the charters, and I told them that I would cancel the charters and find out if I had the authority to do so afterwards. I pointed out that we had taken something into Germany, which was Rotary, and if they wanted to make it something which was not Rotary they would have to call it by a different name. The interesting thing was that Hitler permitted the German Rotary Clubs to continue without barring non-Aryans. I have thought of that many times since in connection with the explanations of appeasement." 22nd IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1933-34 John Nelson of the Rotary Club of Montreal, Quebec, Canada., served as Rotary International’s 23rd President. His Rotary vision: The mobilization of individual goodwill in solving universal problems. "Without goodwill no system can succeed; with it even an imperfect one can scarcely fail." - Rotary on the March - Whither?, THE ROTARIAN, July 1933 In his collection of the first 50 years of Rotary, Past RI Director Joe Caulder remembers John Nelson as "a person who held a lifelong interest in education and that he had an important part in organizing ‘The National Council on Education.’ This organization carried on under the capable leadership of Major Ney until 1941. The raising of about $22,000.00 for this work is perhaps the finest joint effort ever by the Rotary Clubs of Canada." 23rd IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1934-35 Robert E. Lee Hill of the Rotary Club of Columbia, Missouri, USA. was the 24th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Individual Rotarians, working together to pay their duty and show their responsibility to society. "Merely selling things is boredom; selling services is the stuff of which self-respect and dignifying one's vocation are made." - Rotary in a Progressing World, THE ROTARIAN, July 1934 In his collection of the first 50 years of Rotary, Past RI Director Joe Caulder remembers Robert E. Lee Hill in the following way: "Bob came from the Ozark country and is still there but now he tells all the bankers in Missouri what they must do instead of advising the Alumni of Columbia University what they should. do. We served on the 1928-1929 Board together and no problem could seem too tough so long as Bob was close by with a good story handy." 24TH IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1935-36 Ed R. Johnson of the Rotary Club of Roanoke, Virginia, USA. was the 25th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Application of individual responsibility as the key to service. "One of the most inspiring Rotary experiences that I have had. . . was the participation in a regional conference in Venice. . . . More than 1,500 Rotarians and members of their families, coming from 29 countries, gathered to meet at a time when Europe and the world were torn by dissension.. ..European Rotarians, animated by goodwill, showed themselves determined to maintain contacts with fellow Rotarians of other countries up to what might have been the last moment. They wanted to explore every possibility to help in the development of mutual understanding and thus preserve international peace." - Address to 1936 Rotary Convention, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA In a letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder dated January 19, 1951, Past President Johnson wrote: "As I look back upon the activities of that year, I pick out an event which, in all probability, was the most important decision I had to make. This is particularly interesting in view of the recent decree issued by the Vatican. It had been planned for months to have a Regional Conference in Venice, Italy during the latter part of September 1935. Shortly before that, the world became aware of what Premier Mussolini had in mind regarding Ethiopia. When his plan became known, we commenced to receive suggestions that the Conference be postponed or cancelled and at the same time, we received communications from Italian Rotary Clubs or Rotarians to allow the Conference to proceed as planned. After another conference with Secretary Ches Perry in Chicago, and with Alex Potter after I arrived in London, on my way to the Conference, it was decided that no change would be made. A decision which had been made the previous year was helpful in reaching the decision in this matter. Previously, we had been urged not to have the Convention in Mexico City, and again this is interesting in view of the present situation. Catholic Church publications claimed that Rotary's going to Mexico City for its annual Convention, was, in a way, putting its stamp of approval upon what they claimed was persecution on the part of the Mexican Government toward the Catholic Church. And, as you know Rotary went ahead and had the Convention, taking the stand, of course, that it was a non-sectarian organization; and we can truthfully say that Rotary is non-political. Also, it was easy to make a decision to let the Regional Conference, which turned out to be a very fine affair, go ahead -- for to have done otherwise, would have, in the eyes of some (who were saying that Rotary as such), disapproved of the actions of Premier Mussolini. Temporarily, at least, I think we saved Rotary in Italy." 25th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1936-37, Will R. Manier Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee, USA. was the 26th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Making vocational service truly international and its application the basis for world understanding and peace. "The first thing we must do if we are to have international understanding is to realize what is prejudice and what is fact." - Address to 1937 Rotary Convention, Nice, France In a remembering Will Manier, Past RI Director Joe Caulder wrote in his diary: "Bill Manier loved Rotary and his vision for Rotary's future was wide and far reaching. He always fought hard for what he truly believed and would oppose friend or foe at any time on any subject that effected Rotary in the Clubs, Districts, the U.S. and worldwide. He fought for the right of the Clubs to control Rotary and against centralization." 26th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1937-38, Maurice Duperrey of Rotary Club of Paris, France was the 27th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To show the world the way to peace through friendship and understanding. "Rotary is so simple that many people do not understand it, and some even misunderstand it. Rotary is not a philosophy. . . not an all-embracing world point of view which answers every question.. .and satisfies all the dictates of the heart and mind. Rotary is merely an association of business and professional men united in the ideal of service." - Address to 1938 Rotary Convention, San Francisco, California, USA In a letter to Joe Caulder dated July 9, 1951, Past President Maurice Duperrey wrote: "I may mention that I had the privilege of being the first President from Continental Europe and that I was also the first President of R.I. who ever visited South America during this term of office. In all the countries I was received as an Ambassador of good will and I shall never forget the hearty welcome of all the Rotarians." 27th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1938-39, George C. Hager, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was the 28th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: "Good communication as the basis of true understanding." The words he spoke at the 1939 Convention, as the world was being engulfed in war, are as true today as any other time in Rotary history. "Rotary believes that the citizen who best serves his country is the one who wishes to know the truth about his neighbors, and who desires to replace hatred between nations with friendship." — Address to 1939 Rotary Convention, Cleveland, Ohio, USA In a letter To Past RI Director Joseph Caulder dated January 16, 1951, Past RI President George Hager wrote: "At the request of Cordell Hull, Secretary of State of the United States, and a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Carthage, Tennessee, I was the first president from North America to visit the Rotary clubs in Central and South America. Mr. Hull had ascertained at three Pan American regional conferences, where all but one or two members were Rotarians, that the Rotarians of Ibero America resented the fact that North American presidents were not visiting their clubs. Therefore, Grace Hager and I visited clubs in every country in Ibero America." 28th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1939-40, Walter D. Head, Rotary Club of Montclair, New Jersey, USA. was the 29 th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Every Rotarian a living example of Rotary principles in action."In a world where precious little love is being lost between nations, [the] movement to save the children is revealing man’s best and perhaps truest side…. Just how great or small Rotary’s part in this movement will be, nobody can yet say….[But] Rotary will open its great heart and do as it has always done when facing emergency — rise with magnificent courage, grateful for another opportunity to exemplify its one fundamental principle, the service of one’s fellowman." — New World Homes for European Children, THE ROTARIAN, September 1940 In a letter to Past R.I. Director Joe Caulder dated January 11, 1951, Past President Head wrote: "Now as to ‘my year’. It was an unusual one due to the fact that Germany marched into Poland on December 1 st, 1939. During the years 38, 39, and 40, Rotary dropped out of various countries either by official government action or by violent dissolution.We wondered if the Rotary house was falling down around our ears but yet there were very encouraging manifestations of loyalty. I wish I had saved some of them. Perhaps they are in the files in Chicago. At any rate, there were numerous Rotarians and Rotary Club Officers who wrote in saying that although they were officially banned, they would never give up their interest and would even in many cases, if possible, continue to meet clandestinely. I remember particularly one letter from Otto Fischer of Stuttgart, Germany, saying about as follows: "'Although we have been officially forbidden to meet, we continue to foregather from time to time in the same old Restaurant where formerly we had so many happy functions and also we are not allowed to even to mention the name Rotary, but we look into each other’s eyes and understand.’" 29th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents In 1940-41, Armando de Arruda Pereira of Rotary Club of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil was the 30th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: More clubs! More friends! "Just as Rotary itself can never keep its place unless it is constantly growing, so each individual Rotary club cannot afford to stand still while the stream of life moves onward." — Ever Forward!, THE ROTARIAN, February 1941 In his album on Past RI Presidents, Past RI Director remembered Past President Armando de Arruda Perira: "Armando was President of Rotary International in 1940-1941, and made a name for himself in Rotary and did a fine job for Brazil and, in fact, for all South America. His death on March 18th, 1955 was untimely and unexpected. He was a comparatively young man and his kind were sorely needed in his rich, young country." 30th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1941-42, Tom J. Davis of the Rotary Club of Butte, Montana, was the 31st President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To help mankind learn to live together. "Rotary was born in a time of peace, but its program of service is even more necessary in a period of world conflict." — Inaugural Message, 1941 Rotary Convention, Denver, Colorado, USA President Rotary International for 1921-1922, Crawford C. McCullough, wrote The Rotarian obituary article published in December, 1953, following Tom Davis’ death the previous October. Here’s how Past President McCullough described Tom Davis’ year as President of Rotary International: "He climaxed his ascending career with the Presidency in 1941-42. This was in wartime. Here he brought to his difficult task the full force of his indomitable will to do well whatever he put his hand to. Rotary's fourth avenue of service was for him no hazy and unattainable ideal. In spite of the tragedy of ruthless war, it was a realistic challenge to action. At the close of his year as President he told the Toronto Convention in 1942: ‘There is no greater problem confronting mankind than learning how to live together. But as we are spending astronomical sums each day in learning to die together, cannot we spend a little time in searching for a means of living together?’" 31st IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1942-43 Fernando Carbajal of the Rotary Club of Lima, Peru was the 32 nd President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: The application of practical action in solving problems, locally and worldwide."The prevailing Rotary attitude in rendering service is practicality. Its aim in performing a useful action is to be helpful and serviceable, not sentimental…. As practical idealists, we temper the fanciful flights of the dreamer with the limitations of common sense." — Address to 1943 Rotary Convention, St. Louis, Missouri, USA In a letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder, dated August 24, 1951, Past President Carbajal wrote: "For reasons of the War, my travels as President of R.I. were very limited. I could not travel through Europe and the Orient, and my visits to the rotary clubs were entirely dedicated to the members of the Western Hemisphere. Every country of this section of the World was visited and my energies directed to the embellishment - through Rotary and its ideals - of beautiful belief of Pan-Americanism. I told my fellow rotarians in many opportunities that we in the Americas have faith in the triumph of the United Nations, and that we believe that when victory has been won, the policy of continental solidarity and friendly cooperation which has been unfolded in the Western Hemisphere in the days of strife, will serve as an inspiration to the entire world to put into practice the precepts and standards which have enabled the peoples of the Americas to live together in peace and to enjoy the benefits of good will and understanding. This was the most important event of my presidential term and of my life." 32nd IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1943-44 Charles L. Wheeler of Rotary Club of San Francisco, California, was the 33 rd President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Making the organization strong by strengthening the individual club."If we ever reach the point where we can feel that the greatest and noblest things that Rotary could possibly do have already been done, at that very moment our organization will begin to disintegrate." — Address to 1944 Rotary Convention, Chicago, Illinois, USA During this Centennial year of Rotary, most attention is directed to Paul Harris and the other men who served as President of this great organization. All of them significantly contributed to the development and growth of our association. But other early members played significant roles in the maturing of Rotary. One such member was Harry Ruggles, the fifth Rotarian, who brought singing to Rotary meeting. In "The Rotarian", in 1948, Harry Ruggles wrote an article about another early Rotarian. Here’s part of what Harry Ruggles wrote about Charlie Newton, the 7 th Rotarian"In the early days Charlie was one of the most active members. He never wanted to be an officer or director. He preferred to work on committees, and every year he was on several committees, especially membership, which he was on year after year. Charlie repeatedly turned down pleas of the membership to take the Presidency until he was practically drafted in 1923. His record as President was outstanding. In the early years Paul Harris and myself tried to persuade Charlie to take the Presidency, but he flatly refused until we finally landed him in 1923. "Charlie and his wife were always very active workers on B. O. Jones Christmas basket Committee. On many occasions they delivered baskets to the poor and needy in terrible weather. Charlie and his wife have always been interested in the welfare of the unfortunate. During Charlie's year as President, the Chest Fund was adopted and the Crippled Children's work was given great impetus. He was also active in promoting Boys' Week and Boys' Clubs. Charlie was a strict disciplinarian. He enforced the membership attendance rules, and over one hundred members were dropped at one meeting. Prompt payment of dues was enforced. His "Know the man at your table" stunt was one of the outstanding things during his year. Most of the things that Charlie originated have been copied and followed by the Rotary Clubs of today. So Charlie, we in Rotary Salute you." 33rd IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1944-45, Richard H. Wells of the Rotary Club of Pocatello, Idaho, USA was the 34th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Rotarians as leaders in every facet of postwar recovery. "We can tell people how glad we are to belong to such a fine organization. We can tell of our…achievements. But Rotary will never flourish and never accomplish those dreams we are so proud to own unless we can so live that Rotary may be proud of us." — Address to 1943 Rotary Convention, St. Louis, Missouri, USA In his writings, Past Rotary International Director Joseph A. Caulder had fond memories of RI President Richard Wells. Here's one thing Joe Caulder wrote in the volume on the first fifty presidents: "Dick was the human dynamo from Pocatello, Idaho. He proved his willingness to do more for Rotary, his town, state and country than his human frame could stand. He was a young President in 1944-1945 and did a good job as President, and in 1945-1946 as immediate Past President, but he passed on January 6th, 1947 at a very early age." 34th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1945-46 Thomas A. Warren of the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England was the 35th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Informed Rotarians as strong influences in public opinion. "There is significance in the fact that seven chairmen of national delegations at the San Francisco Conference [to charter the United Nations] and a score more members of the delegations, were Rotarians. Such fact and such figures are but an outward and visible sign that the world is hungry for our simple mission. Rotary’s growth and its practices and its potentials go far beyond any numerical assessment." — Leaders Need Followers, THE ROTARIAN, October 1945 In a letter to Past RI Director Joseph A. Caulder dated January 12, 1951, Past President Thomas A. Warren wrote: "Rotary already had good links with the comparatively new United Nations, and we of course had the job of pushing forward this connection with speed and thoroughness because the War was over, and quickly improving transportation enabled the nations (including Rotary) to get together again. Much is in the records of 1945 and 6 of what we did to support the United Nations, but maybe the best thing for the record is that we issued for the first time "From Here On" which as you know is still going vigorously today." 35th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1946-47 Richard C. Hedke of the Rotary Club of Detroit, Michigan, USA was the 36th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: That it show human beings around the earth how to get along together. "The entire world is attempting to climb from the bottomless pit of international rancor and strife…our only hope is the very thin thread of international cooperation." — Nations Are People, THE ROTARIAN, March 1947 In a letter to Past RI Director Joseph A. Caulder dated January 16, 1952, Past President Dick Hedke wrote to Joe Caulder about the difficult times their friends in Czechoslovakia were experiencing. President Hedke wrote: "During the Holiday Season, Louise and I received a Christmas card from our mutual friend, Josef Schulz. We did not send him a card, or any to our other friends in Czechoslovakia because when Jan Ryka was here some time ago e thought it would be unwise to carry on correspondence or even send cards to our friends there. We thought of our friend, Josef Schulz, and others, during the Holiday Season and found it rather difficult not to include them with our Christmas list. On the other hand, we were guided by Jan Ryka's advice." 36th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. 1947-48 S. Kendrick Guernsey of the Rotary Club of Jacksonville, Florida, USA. was the 37th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To train men in every community for strong, unselfish service. "Enter to Learn — Go Forth to Serve." — Became the Unofficial Motto of Rotary’s International Assembly In a letter to Past RI Director Joseph A. Caulder dated January 8, 1951, Past President S. Kendrick Guernsey wrote to Joe Caulder about a highlight of his year as RI President: "The one thing which I consider contributed most to the present and future of Rotary International was an effort which is and will be inconspicuous, but of tremendous importance, and cumulative value. My observation over recent years convinced me that Rotarians, new and old, knew too little about the ideals, objectives, and history of Rotary. As a consequence I made it the major objective of my year, working through the District Governors, to persuade Rotary Clubs throughout the world to take into their membership no new member until he had been thoroughly instructed in the ideals, objectives, methods and history of R.I. To this end I wrote hundreds, perhaps thousands, of letters. I mentioned it in scores of speeches. And hundreds of letters from Governors, Club Presidents, and individual Rotarians convinced me that the effort was bearing fruit. Angus Mitchell, who succeeded me, continued this effort vigorously, and I believe the impetus started in 1947-48 will continue." 37th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1948-49 Angus S. Mitchell of the Rotary Club of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia was the 38th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To work with the youth of today to build a strong and peaceful world of tomorrow. "Our boys and girls have greater freedom, exercise greater power, and have more opportunities for both good and evil, than ever before. Even if we fail them, youth will not be neglected, for they are the object of universal attention from all the conflicting ideologies and opinions in the world….How important it is, therefore, that youth’s great possibilities for good be realized and developed!" — Address to 1948 Rotary Convention, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil In a speech to the 28th District Conference in January, 1951, Sir Angus told the audience: "A much happier memory is that of the re-establishment of Rotary in Germany and Japan which I consider the highlight of my year as President. Little did I dream during those years from 1938 to 1941, when clubs in these countries were lost, that I would be in office when they were brought back into the Rotary family. I remember as if it were yesterday, the special night session during the Board Meeting in January, 1949, when for some three hours or more there was an earnest discussion about this matter in which every member participated. We were unanimous in the decisions taken which approved the re-introduction of Rotary in Japan at the earliest possible moment, and into Germany with the least possible delay. The President and Secretary of Rotary International were authorised and directed to implement these decisions, and I will always remember what a tower of strength and comfort Phil was to me during the rather difficult process. I know that each of us appealed to the Almighty for guidance. I know that together we planned and talked for hours on end and finally through the devoted work of the Assistant Secretary, George Means, who went to Japan, and Assistant Secretary Walter Panzar, who went to Germany, coupled with advice from certain selected Rotarians and former Rotarians, the first club in Japan was re-established at Tokyo, March 29, 1949, and the first in Germany at Frankfurt, May 9, 1949. There was criticism of our actions as we anticipated, but there was also much commendation. I remember saying at the time that the Board was confident in the belief that the re-introduction of Rotary into Japan and Germany would help materially toward bringing about the understanding necessary in the struggle for peace, and I believe it had done just this. General MacArthur during an interview which I had with him a year ago in Japan expressed himself as well satisfied with and grateful for what our movement was doing and told me how it was aiding the re-construction programme. He said that Rotary's ideals and principles along with those of the Y.M.C.A., Boy Scouts and similar organizations are largely the foundations on which social recovery has been based. There have been equally appreciative tributes from Germany." 38th IN THE SERIES QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS, taken from the RI publication 100 Outstanding Quotes from Rotary International Presidents. In 1949-50, Percy Hodgson, a member of the Rotary Club of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA, was the 39 th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To train the youth of today (the leaders of tomorrow) in sound business ethics."If we train our youth properly, we need not have any fear as to the future of the world." — Inaugural Address, 1949 Rotary Convention, New York, New York, USA In a letter dated February 9, 1951, Past President Hodgson to Past RI Director Joe Caulder, many events in the 1949-50 were outlined. Among Past President Hodgson’s comments was: "During my year as President - after each trip Edith and I came back into Chicago and had a meeting with the entire staff, telling them about conditions as we found them, not giving them a travelogue, but telling them about Rotary conditions and advising them where they could do a better job in carrying out their duties as members of the Secretariat. We tried to help them to understand the people with whom they were corresponding, a little bit better than previously." 39th IN THE SERIES Approximately thirty-eight weeks ago, I began sending out "QUOTES OF PAST RI PRESIDENTS" as a means of giving wider circulation to a valuable RI publication, and to share some of the volumes of material in the Joseph A. Caulder Collection. When I started these emails, I purposefully passed by Paul P. Harris and began with the second Rotary International President, knowing that this week - Christmas week - I would use a Paul and Jean Harris message I found in the Caulder papers. Among Caulder’s cherished Rotary keepsakes was a Christmas greeting from Paul and Jean Harris for Christmas 1930. The words they penned nearly 75 years ago can serve as a reminder to us all of those things which should be important in our lives. Here’s what they wrote PAUL and JEAN HARRIS - CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 1930 As my LASSIE Jean and I were strolling around the yard one summer afternoon, our minds reverted to the blessings which were ours. We listed our home, perched on the hill top midst friendly oaks and with evergreens in plenty to give impression of warmth when cold winds blow; we also listed books and household goods, sacred accumulations of years and representing many sacrifices. * An impulse suggested the question: Would life be worth living without these things? It did not take long to answer, Yes, life is even more sacred. * Then came another's there anything more valuable than life? We thought of touch of vanished hands and the sound of voices stilled and realized that there are things without which life would be so sterile that it might well end. If there were no such things as fellowship with friends and communion with loved ones, life would be darker than starless night. * Friendship can hurdle national boundary lines, religious and political differences; and with love all things is possible. * Christmas is a day plucked from the calendar of the Millennium, love’s own day. That its spirit may illumine your pathway to the last stop of the journey and that every day may be Christmas throughout the world, by and by, is the fervent wish of When you have a few minutes, I hope you will visit the "Joseph A. Caulder Collection" web site at http//www.nlis.net/~freedomi/rotary/caulder and read more about Rotary’s early history as seen through the eyes of a unique individual. This collection of early Rotary history was put together by Past R.I. Director Joe Caulder in the years leading up to Rotary's "Golden Anniversary." Joe Caulder's friendship with all of the first fifty presidents, and his willingness to share his observations and mementos with others, provides a insight into Rotary's early years through the eyes of a witness who is honest, straightforward and direct. My wife, Shirley, joins me in wishing you and your family our best wishes for the Holidays. Dan Mooers Past Rotary International Director 40TH IN THE SERIES In 1950-51, Arthur Lagueux of the Rotary Club of Quebec, Quebec, Canada was Rotary’s 40 th President. His Rotary vision Turning its aims and ideals into action."Rotary’s influence on the heart of the world will be in direct proportion to the number of communities that are exposed to the Rotary ideal. So let us help to found new clubs wherever the soil is at all fertile." — Five Goals for Friendly Men, THE ROTARIAN, July 1950 In a letter to Past Director Joe Caulder on July 19, 1951, just a few days after his year as RI President ended, Arthur Lagueux wrote about his year "I found that the prestige of Rotary is high in Europe, that Rotary is filling a great need. The bitterness engendered by the war in Europe and Asia has not yet disappeared, but the part Rotary is playing is promoting understanding between the peoples of the nations concerned is truly impressive. "The work that was done by individual Rotary clubs and Rotarians is amazing and inspiring, but it is the warm friendliness that I have found Rotary’s greatest strength. Its efforts to break down barriers of race, religion, and nationality – to provide a stage on which men can meet and discuss their problems in a friendly atmosphere – are having far-reaching effects." 41 st IN THE SERIESIn 1951-52, Frank E. Spain of the Rotary Club of Birmingham, Alabama, USA, was the 41 st President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision That every club meeting be a forum of ideas; for men of ideas make history."Rotary is a fellowship of noblemen; not a hereditary nobility but a nobility that must be earned and re-earned….Nobility is measured by its obligations, not by its rights and privileges…service above self." — Rotary in the March of Mankind, THE ROTARIAN, July 1951 In a letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder, Past President Frank Spain wrote: "The big think about my year as president was the very outstanding Board that was elected to serve with me. Everyone of the, joined a team in our first meeting; it was a dedicated team of men who were not running a popularity contest, but an achievement test. They felt that the time had come to gather up all of the loose ends; or to mix my metaphors, to grind all the grist that was lying around in the mill. There were a lot of these awaiting their attention. For several years vitally important pieces of Rotary policy and legislation had been timidly advanced to the Council on Legislation and hastily withdrawn when opposition arose. Our Board felt that these things ought to be put to the test and either adopted or defeated so as to get them out of the way and make way for new thinking and new policies. At Mexico City every one of these pieces of legislation was put to the test and in every single case in which the Board made a recommendation its leadership was recognized by the convention delegates and it was supported by very substantial majorities." 42nd IN THE SERIES In 1952-53, Henry J. "Bru" Brunnier of the Rotary Club of San Francisco, California, USA, was the 42nd President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision Applying the principle of gradualness as a powerful force for good. "The things that are worthwhile take time, and it is not the "’I's" of the world but the "We’s" who achieve them." — Eventually…Gradually…, THE ROTARIAN, July 1952 In a letter to Past RI Director Joseph A. Caulder, dated April 30, 1954, Past President Brunnier recalled his year as RI President. "Perhaps the one thing that stands out above others", Bru wrote, "is that, during my year as President, Ann and I had the opportunity to visit so many clubs in various parts of the world, which I am sure created a closer relationship between individual clubs and Rotary International." When Past President "Bru" refers to "Ann", he is, of course, referring to his wife. Ann Brunnier also was the first "Rotary Ann," a term of endearment used to refer to a wife of a Rotarian beginning in 1914 and continuing for many, many years thereafter (and in some parts of the Rotary world, even today). 43rd IN THE SERIES In the Rotary year 1953-54, Joaquin Serratosa Cibils, Montevideo, Uruguay served as the 43 rd President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: Continual creation of new clubs to turn Rotary’s dream of service into ever wider action."The more clubs we have, the more friends we have, and the more friends, the greater our opportunity for service." — Meet Your President, THE ROTARIAN, September 1953. In a letter to Past RI Director Joseph A. Caulder, dated June 15, 1954, President Joanquin wrote "You asked me to mention the highlights of my year as president. Well, my dear Joe, as you very well know, my special interest and desire this year has been the further extension of Rotary in all parts of the world. And it has been very gratifying to me to receive such splendid cooperation from our dear district governors in reaching the goal of five new Rotary clubs in each district, which I set at the beginning of our year. In all my Rotary travels I stressed the necessity for organizing new clubs and I was trilled at the possibilities which I saw in every country for the growth of Rotary, now and in the future. Of course, not every governor produced five new clubs, but all made a sincere effort and several of them organized not only five, but ten, or twelve, or more fine, new Rotary clubs. This extension of the influence of Rotary in so many parts of the world is certainly one of the highlights of my year." 44th IN THE SERIES In 1954-55, Herbert J. Taylor of the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA. was the 44 th President of Rotary International and the Golden Anniversary President of Rotary. His Rotary vision: To inspire businessmen around the world to honor the Rotary ethic as enacted in The Four-Way Test."The fundamental principles contained in Rotary’s Four-Way Test — truth, justice, friendliness, and helpfulness to others — are among the tenets or doctrines of the religious faiths of practically all Rotarians. These four simple questions apply in all we think, say and do 1. Is it the truth? 2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial to all concerned?" — Address to 1954 Rotary Convention, Seattle, Washington, USA In a letter to Past RI Director Joe Caulder, written by Herb Taylor shortly after he finished his year as President of RI, Past President Taylor wrote about he year that, among other things achieved "Warming to my heart was the widespread use of The Four-Way Test, its distribution in various forms amounting to almost half a million copies; the joy of learning of its being introduced into hundreds of schools and colleges in approximately twenty countries throughout the world; the thrill of participating in its presentation to the State Governors of Illinois and Minnesota, and seeing it emblazoned on huge billboards in the State of Georgia." 45th in the Series In 1955-56, A. Z. Baker of the Rotary Club of Cleveland, Ohio, USA was the 45th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: That Rotarians would use their great resources to extend neighborliness around the world. "What could be more symbolic of Rotary than a great symphony orchestra, bringing together in perfect harmony people from many different countries, nationalities, races, creeds, and cultures, representing many specialized talents but each playing a different note on a different instrument, and each essential for the perfection of the whole?" — Address to 1956 Rotary Convention, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. In his album of the first fifty Presidents of Rotary, Past RI Director Joe Caulder remembered Past President Baker with the following comment: "The writer knows what "A.Z." stands for but it was given in secret and will so remain. No one who attended the Philadelphia Convention and listened to and watched A.Z. make his final speech as President of R.I., will ever forget that few moments. Cornelia (his very capable wife) was there and his sons and daughters and sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. All added to the homey heartwarming scene. A.Z. spoke from the heart and so did Cornelia." 46th in the Series In 1956-57 Gian Paolo Lang of the Rotary Club of Livorno, Italy. was the 46th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision: To educate, encourage, and foster understanding among all peoples. "The spirit of Rotary is not exclusive; it expands. It is not local, it is universal. It is the wish to understand and be understood, to see virtues rather than faults in others, to find what we have in common rather than what divides us." — Address to 1957 Rotary Convention, Lucerne, Switzerland In his album on the first fifty RI Presidents, Past RI Director Joe Caulder shares an experience he had with the visiting President of RI Gian Paolo Lang. Here's what Joe Caulder wrote "Our Toronto club was fortunate in having Paul and Valentina spend three days in the city early in his Presidential year. This was a great three days for Rotary in Toronto and its suburbs. That Friday will long be remembered by about 700 Rotarians. There were almost 300 visiting Rotarians from over 90 clubs. A great array of present and past "brass" decorated the head table. . District 247 presented Paul with a handmade Indian buckskin jacket. It was very beautiful with its fan bead work. District 221 brought 10 genuine Indians from the Six Nation Reserve and their Chief made Paul an Honorary Chief in a very impressive ceremony. Then followed a fine but short address from the real Indian Chief and after that some Indian war dances in which President Paul, wearing his magnificent headgear, took part and did an excellent job. A fine speech followed by Paul and all agreed it had been an outstanding affair. We hope Paul and Valentina will come back again. In the afternoon the Italian Colony, led by the Consul, held a reception for Paul at the Royal York. We were all sorry to say "Goodbye" to this grand pair on Sunday morning." 47th in the Series
48TH IN THE SERIES The following quote of a Past Rotary International President is from a wonderful Centennial booklet provided by RI, a series on quotes from all RI Presidents. In 1958-59 Clifford A. Randall of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA was Rotary International’s 48th President. His Rotary vision That it meet the challenge of new needs in new settings in a changing world. "It is frightfully easy to mistake the speed with which information can be transmitted from one place to another today with the actual and complete act of communicating . . . .Having seen the picture or having heard the event described almost at the time it happened, we are so often left with questions. We know what has happened but we don’t know why." — Address to 1959 Rotary Convention, New York, New York, USA On June 1, 1962, a few days after Commander Scott Carpenter became the second American to orbit the earth, Past President Clifford A. Randall addressed the Rotary Club of Los Angeles, California. This profound talk, well worth reading even now by all Rotarians, began with the following observation by Past President Randall. "During the time we were together at the International meeting, Commander Carpenter made his trip into space. This exciting event served to remind all of us once again that it is now an accomplished fact that a pair of human eyes can look at the whole world almost in the same fashion that one can stand off and observe a globe in one’s living room or study. This fact adds a new significance to the terms, "Our World" and "One World", which have long been a part of our vocabulary. The mind behind those human eyes which can survey the whole world in ninety minutes must have an understanding of that globe far greater than the human understanding we have been able to achieve or demonstrate to date." 49th IN THE SERIES The following quote of a Past Rotary International President is from a wonderful Centennial booklet provided by RI, a series on quotes from all RI Presidents. In 1959-60, Harold T. Thomas of the Rotary Club of Auckland, New Zealand, was the 49th President of Rotary International. His Rotary vision To vitalize, personalize, and build bridges of friendship. "One of the most impressive examples I know of international cooperation is in those gardens where we find plants, shrubs, and trees flourishing side by side in perfect harmony and beauty….There is much wisdom to be learned in a garden, and the very beginning is a realization of the fact that all final results depend upon proper preparation of the soil….So it is with Rotary. The crop we envisage is world peace and stability, a world in which we all live together as friends and neighbors. The seed to be sown — fellowship, friendship, understanding. The soil — the minds of individual Rotarians." — Address to 1960 Rotary Convention, Miami-Miami Beach, Florida, USA In the July, 1959 issue of The Rotarian magazine, the usual articles introduced the new R.I. President to the Rotary world. In an article titled "Vitalize, Personalize . . . Build Bridges of Friendship", President Harold T. Thomas wrote "From the beginning, Rotary has been concerned with people, not politics – with personal relationships between man and man, not between Government and Government – with the conscience of mankind and the will to peace in the hearts and minds of people, not with the mechanics and politics of peace. Organized friendship – friendship organized for action in building bridges of friendship for a more neighborly world – is our business in Rotary and the objective point of the whole program of Rotary in all four avenues of service."
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