ROTARY CLUB OF LETHBRIDGE
SERVICE ABOVE SELF THROUGH THE DECADES
The Rotary Club of Lethbridge was chartered in May 1918, and Rotary contributions to the community from Charter date up to and including 1920.
Our Club canvassed for Salvation Army Funds; presented a Christmas party for children of soldiers; Santa’s visit to 500 children; contributed to the Soldiers’ War Memorial and the Great War Vets Building Fund, as well as the Nursing mission. In 1919 the club answered a call from Mayor Hardie to find books for the soon-to-be-opened public library, and in a book drive found 3,000 volumes.
Rotary Club of Lethbridge
Charter Members in 1918
The men who started the Rotary Club of Lethbridge (charter number 415) on May 15, 1918 included: John B. Wilkie, Art Baalim, Harold Long Gerald Bletcher, Harry Alexander, Bert Bertrand, Hugh Crawford, John Dow, Victor Green, Arthur Higgenbotham, Otto Lathrup, George Leech, George McKay, Colin Mackintosh, George Morris, Asa Parks, Guy Roy and Fred Spooner.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
1917 – 1918:
1918 J B Wilke
1918 - 1919: A G Baalim
1919 – 1920: Fred Spooner
In the 1920’s:
Our Club donated funds for playground equipment; sent 100 boys to camp; donated to first “covered ice rink”; presented a Minstrel Show for fun and fundraising; joined with Gyro to take over management of the YMCA for two years; developed Henderson Lake bathing beach and playground; and operated the “Midway at the Fair” and began a tradition of tree planting continued intermittently to the 1990’s.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
1920 – 1921: S G Porter
1921 – 1922: H G Clarke
1922 – 1923: H W Crawford
1923 – 1924: W P Craig
1924 – 1925: R R Davidson
1925 – 1926: John Dow
1926 – 1927: G N Houston
1927 – 1928: T C Ridpath
1928 – 1929: R Barrowman
1929 – 1930: N S Stolze
In the 1930’s:
Our Club took over running the ice arena for three years; organized our first Hobby Fair; put manpower into running the Lethbridge Exhibition Grandstand; purchased an ambulance for Red Cross; Minstrel and music shows continued; Christmas benefits for children; clothing drives for the mission; bought and delivered 700 food hampers for the mission; and in a large international project co-operated with Cardston and Calgary and Montana clubs to deliver the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, whose annual goodwill international gatherings continue to this day.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
1930 – 1931: C R Daniel
1931 – 1932: R J H Paterson
1932 – 1933: H W Meech
1933 – 1934: E E Eisenhaur
1934 – 1935: George Lomas
1935 – 1936: E A Wilson
1936 – 1937: W H Fairfield
1937 – 1938: Chris Hansen
1938 – 1939: Tomm Mitten
1939 – 1940: Max Hoffman
In the 1940’s:
Our Club ran a Red Cross funding drive; conducted repairs to Camp Inupsi, and sent 50 children to camp; financed a soldiers’ canteen; hosted allied air and gunnery trainees with dinners and dances; clothing drives; and a War Bonds campaign; Victory Loans; began the Rotary Christmas Carol Festival; son and daughter banquets; apple days and Red Cross Blood Donor Clinics.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
1940 – 1941: R Y Paton
1941 – 1942: G C Paterson
1942 – 1943: Russel Haig
1943 – 1944: George Cox
1944 – 1945: Matt Wilkenson
1945 – 1946: Art Haig
1946 – 1947: H A Mutchmor
1947 – 1948: J H Walker
1948 – 1949: C A Bryant
1949 – 1950: J M Wilton
In the 1950’s:
Our Club sponsored track and field meets; conducted Rotary baseball tournaments, as well as curling bonspiels; planted trees on North Parkside Dr and on 16th St; organized musical variety shows; sponsored Canadian Players Shakespeare Company visits; assisted the Rehabilitation Society; and developed historical cairn in Galt Gardens with R.C.E.M.E.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
RI THEME:
1950 – 1951: Bill Davidson Extend the Influence of Rotary
1951 – 1952: F Calder
1952 – 1953: G A Gillis
1953 – 1954: G O Gowlland Rotary is Hope in Action
1954 – 1955: R C Tenant Good Rotarians are Good Citizens
1955 – 1956: H J Hargrave Develop our Resources
1956 – 1957: D G W Sutherland More Rotary in Rotarians
1957 – 1958: Andy Anderson Enlist – Extend – Explore - Serve
1958 – 1959: John Black Help Shape the Future
1959 – 1960: Eddie Cairns Vitalize! Personalize ! Build Bridges
of Friendship
In the 1960’s:
Our Club organized “Something For Young Minds” – youth visits and exchanges; Spring Choral Festival “Maytime”; Mardi Gras dances for fun and fundraising; washrooms and baths at Camp Inupsi; Rotary Male Chorus; public barbecue at Exhibition Grounds; public speaking “Spokes” Club.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
RI THEME:
1960 – 1961: D M Davies You Are Rotary! Live It! Express It!
Expand It!
1961 – 1962: Hugh Arnold Act; Aim for Action; Communicate for
Understanding; Test for Leadership
1962 – 1963: Alan Cullen Kindle the Spark Within
1963 – 1964: R M Gemmel Meeting Rotary’s Challenge in the Space
Age
1964 – 1965: Jim Pickard Live Rotary
1965 – 1966: Bud Millar Action, Consolidation, and Continuity
1966 – 1967: J Thackray A Better World through Rotary
1967 – 1968: Thad Ives Make Your Rotary Membership Effective
1968 – 1969: Cy Redfern Participate!
1969 – 1970: Larry Jacobson Review and Renew
In the 1970’s:
Our Club participated in a Summer Youth Exchange; steak fry; Lethbridge Youth Forum; co-sponsored Rotary Club Horse Show; Rotary Park in West Lethbridge; Salvation Army Kettles; student scholarships began; chicken barbecue began.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
RI THEME:
1970 – 1971: Colin Darcel Bridge the Gaps
1971 – 1972: Dick Williams Goodwill Begins With You
1972 – 1973: John Gogo Let’s Take a Look – and Act
1973 – 1974: Rae Pepper A Time For Action
1974 – 1975: Don Higgins Renew the Spirit of Rotary
1975 – 1976: Bob Shackleford To Dignify the Human Being
1976 – 1977: Bob Willis I Believe in Rotary
1977 – 1978: Ron Butcher Serve to Unite Mankind
1978 – 1979: Ken Rooke Reach Out
1979 – 1980: Dale Merchant Let Service Light the Way
In the 1980’s:
Our Club assisted Alberta’s 75th anniversary projects by providing funds for projects; Public Library “Books on the Move” van purchased with Rotary volunteers driving; New Year’s Eve frolics; scholarships continue; Polio Plus introduced in the Rotary Global World; fashion show; year-long student exchanges begin; Career fair; Meals on Wheels donations; Food Bank donations; Childrens’ Garden Project; Lethbridge Regional Hospital Trauma unit donation; Lethbridge Community College expansion support; introduced and funded Lethbridge Lifeline Program.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
RI THEME:
1980 – 1981: Bob Giesbrecht Take Time to Serve
1981 – 1982: Dick Turner World Understanding and Peace Through
Rotary
1982 – 1983: David Irving Mankind Is One – Build Bridges of
Friendship Around the World
1983 – 1984: Brian Wielenga Share Rotary – Serve People
1984 – 1985: Les Talbot Discover a New World of Service
1985 – 1986: Deane Little You Are the Key
1986 – 1987: Frank Vegesi Rotary Brings Hope
1987 – 1988: Malcolm Hughes Rotarians – United in Service – Dedicated to
Peace
1988 – 1989: Ed Reierson Put Life into Rotary – Your Life
1989 – 1990: Peter Green Enjoy Rotary!
In the 1990’s:
Our Club provided support for Habitat for Humanity; Boys and Girls Club; Lethbridge Regional Hospital MRI donations; tree planting continues; UNESCO donations continue; Navy League support; St Michael’s Foundation support; student and youth exchanges continue; scholarships and development programs continue; University of Lethbridge LINC support.
CLUB PRESIDENTS:
RI THEME:
1990 – 1991: Jack Reynar Honor Rotary with Faith and Enthusiasm
1991 – 1992: John Hoopfer Look Beyond Yourself
1992 – 1993: Gordon Lowe Real Happiness Is Helping Others
1993 – 1994: Phil North Believe in What You Do - Do What You
Believe In
1994 – 1995: Gord Jong Be A Friend
1995 – 1996: Doug McArthur Act With Integrity, Serve with Love, Work
For Peace
1996 – 1997: Helen Henderson Build The Future with Action and Vision
1997 – 1998: Myles Bourke Show Rotary Cares for your Community, for
our World, for it’s People
1998 – 1999: Tim Waters Follow Your Rotary Dream!
1999 – 2000: Murray Anderson Act with Consistency, Credibility, and
Continuity
UP TO 2005, ROTARY’S CENTENNIAL:
Our Club continues with exchanges and scholarships; provides funding to St Mike’s Palliative Care Unit; partners with The City of Lethbridge in developing Rotary Park in West Lethbridge; Seniors’ Xmas Dinner at the Lethbridge Lodge; Rotary Dragon Boat Festival on Henderson Lake; international projects in Russia, Fiji Islands, Ukraine and Africa; revitalization of Galt Gardens as its Rotary Centennial Project – initial club commitment to the community was some $200,000, this amount grew to some $4 million, thanks to club fund raising initiatives and partnerships with the City of Lethbridge, the Province of Alberta, which also celebrated its Centennial and a community campaign; SO MUCH MORE TO DO
CLUB PRESIDENTS
RI THEME:
2000 – 2001: Mike McGuire Create Awareness - Take Action
2001 – 2002: David Hughes Mankind Is Our Business
2002 – 2003: Frank Vasil Sow the Seeds of Love
2003 – 2004: Bernie Carriere Lend a Hand
2004 – 2005: Darrell Alexander Celebrate Rotary
2005 – 2006: Wayne Stewart Service Above Self
2006 – 2007: Robin Hood
2007 – 2008: this could be you
2008 – 2009: or you
2009 – 2010: why not you
Rotary in Lethbridge is a proud record of fun, fellowship and fundraising, and of people support and development. It’s sharing and caring and making positive differences in our community through the years and in the lives of those around us by a Club who believes in putting SERVICE ABOVE SELF.