Rotary Log: March 28, 2013 (Project Search and Happy Birthday)

We started the day with singing Happy 90^th Birthday to Us!!

Bob Field gave us the Introduction about Rotary in the beginning and the Early Years.

The Beginning

To begin we need a reference point, and as Mort has told us on many, many occasions, any Rotary historical commentary originates on February 23, 1905, the date Paul P. Harris, a young lawyer born in Wisconsin but raised here in New England in Vermont, met with three other similarly inclined gentlemen in Chicago to form an organization intended to promote “camaraderie among business associates”.  They would rotate meeting locations and that practice suggested the name, “Rotary”. This early initiative eventually led to Rotary International, an organization of service and fellowship, as we know it today.

Rotary’s mission is not hidden in archival corporate documents. Rather, since 1911the official Mottos have been: “Service Above  Self”, and “One Profits Most Who Serves Best”. The former is the principal Rotary Motto; the latter evolved from,  ”He Profits Most Who Serves Best”. Not surprisingly, “He” became “One” following the admission of women. Each year the elected Rotary International President selects a theme for her/his term. Examples include: “Lead  The Way” (2007); “Building Communities/ Bridging Continents” (2011); “Follow Your Dream” (1999); and, most recently, “Reach Within To Better Humanity” (2012).

The Early Years

The story begins here in Portsmouth on February 23, 1923, when 25 men are believed to have met at the Rockingham Hotel, signed the necessary paper work to establish a “new” Club, and became its Charter Members. Several of the Club’s recent or active members trace their ancestry to very early members. To wit: Margeson, Waldron, Gray, Boynton, Higgenbotham and Aeschelman are a few examples. Many of the early names are ascribed to our streets and byways;  Hartford and Borthwick to name just two.

On March 28, 1923, Rotary International designated the Portsmouth Club # 1391, granted it membership, and bestowed upon it “…all the rights and privileges of membership… .” The Club’s first civic gift was believed to be an amount of $25.00 to the Y.M.C.A. The “Milk Fund” was first mentioned on December 8, 1923, and was funded by a semi-annual donation of $5.00 per member. The Club doubled in size very quickly to about 50 members, but still maintained its high standards for membership. I’m told that in the early days a “black ball” was used to quash any “questionable” application. The “Classification System” was rigidly followed, and wasn’t significantly relaxed until President Cliff Taylor’s year as Club President in 1973. The Club even found time in its first year to sponsor the formation of the Dover Rotary Club. Sixteen (16) of its members reportedly attended Dover’s Charter Night.

The Membership stayed in equilibrium at about fifty (50) for the next 20 years or so with incoming and outgoing members nearly balancing. What a great history lesson!!!

Happy Dollars were dished out by Nancy Clayburg, John Pappas, Tricia Cummings, Shari Donnermeyer, Diane Foley, Peg Millar, Jim Rini, Dave Underhill, John Roddigan and Mark Sullivan.

Rheanna Cote was the Guest Speaker from Project Search (Portsmouth Regional Hospital)

She opened her presentation by wishing us all a happy birthday!

Rheanna asked us all to close our eyes and remember back to our first job. She asked us question about how that job and our current employment make us feel. What did it mean to you to have your first job?

Rheanna asked these questions because Project Search is a transition program helping young adults with developmental disabilities enter the workforce.

When the current students were asked what getting a job meant to them, here are some of the inspirational words that resonated:

Earn money to support myself, something to do everyday, enjoy the finer things in life, be more independent, afford to support a family, life would have meaning, can contribute to a business, be responsible, be more confident, continue learning and developing, have a better self image, self respect, “I made it!”, contribute to the community, be an adult, even though I am in a wheelchair, I can still work which is good for my personal self image, and respect those around me who appreciate my efforts and input.