“HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY ROTARY CLUB of ……..!”
What? 100 years old? Are you kidding me? District 5870 not only has one Rotary Club celebrating it’s 100 Year Anniversary – we have FIVE!
Rotary Club of Belton – Chartered 1 March 1921
Sponsored by the Waco
Rotary Club of Corsicana – Chartered 1 May 1921
Sponsored by Fort Worth (D5790)
Rotary Club of Hillsboro – Chartered 1 May 1921
Sponsored by Waxahachie (D5810)
Rotary Club of Taylor – Chartered 1 May 1921
Sponsored by Waco
Rotary Club of Temple – Chartered 1 May 1921
Sponsored by Waco
This is unique and really rare for District 5870. Let’s look back at our history. We know that Rotary began 116 years ago – February 23, 1905. Rotary spread quickly with the first club in Texas coming in 1911 that being in Dallas. This was followed quickly by adding clubs in San Antonio, Houston, Beaumont, and Galveston. The first clubs established in what is now District 5870 were Austin and Waco, both coming in 1913.
In 1920 there were 26 Rotary Clubs in Texas. Things began booming (Roaring 20’s, right?), by 1924, Texas had 77 clubs making it the largest Rotary District in the World! This is the period that brought us the five clubs we celebrate this year. We will also celebrate 100 years for the Clubs in Mexia and Yoakum in 2023, McGregor in 2024, and Hallettsville in 2028. Having nine Rotary Clubs still active from the decade of the 1920’s is pretty special. Only the decade of the 1980’s tops that with ten active clubs.
You might also note, in our District, we have no other single Rotary year like 1921 with five clubs still active. The closest is 1983 where we have three clubs still active.
So WHY is all of this important? To me, this rich and long history of Rotary in Texas means strong roots and a strong legacy we can grow from. Texas is unique in its traditions. Texans are proud of our heritage, proud of our past, and the paths that were laid down by our fathers and grandfathers. Let’s leverage this past to help solidify and grow for our future. We should offer our congratulations to these clubs as well as our gratitude for their longevity, their fortitude, and hard work that has kept them viable all of these years. Let those clubs be an inspiration to us all as we strive to accomplish the same in our own clubs: SERVICE ABOUT SELF – ALWAYS!
Rick Stacy
District Governor 5870
2020-2021