PRESIDENT - Daniel F. Sullivan

VICE PRESIDENT - Thomas C. McGuire

SECRETARY - Harry E. Dodge

TREASURER - Everett N. Slade

Frank H. Borden, Oliver M. Cherry

Horace A. Davis, George Dovet

William E. Fawcett, Herbert H. Hewitt

Michael T. Hudber, Frank H. Kingsley

Asa A. Mills, W. Irving Pierce

Robert W. Powers, John T. Swift

Charles H. Warner, William T. Welch

W.D.Wilmot

On October 25, 1920, a small group of businessmen met in the YMCA to consider the idea of a Rotary Club. This meeting was held under the sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Fitchburg, but the prime mover locally was Harry E. Dodge, then secretary of the "Y". The idea was discussed. It took hold. It was to become reality.

On November 16, 1920, the first regular meeting of Rotary in Fall River was held at the Eagle Restaurant. The club was organized on December the 1st and received its charter on December 13, 1920.

The first community project undertaken by the new club grew from the discovery by the committee on Civic Affairs that a teacher in the public schools was fighting malnutrition among children in her class by buying milk for them. The Rotary Club organized a campaign to raise money to meet an obvious need. At a cost of approximately $6,000, the club engaged Dr. W. R. P. Emerson, at the time the country’s leading specialist in medical nutrition, to conduct a survey to determine local conditions. Dr. Emerson formed a nutrition institute and established nutrition classes in the city. The club finally linked this work with the School Department by making nutritional guidance part of public health education. The club followed Dr. Emerson’s recommendation of providing a free milk program throughout the schools, a program later adopted by the city.

This was the start to prove that Rotary’s ideals meant something; to prove that Rotary would justify its existence. Rotary has never stopped proving it.

In those early years the club continued to provide assistance to various organizations, some still in existence and some long since gone. The Rotary Club paid all operating expenses of the Cedar Park Health Camp for two years and was instrumental in providing funds for a third year in cooperation with other agencies.

The club furnished milk for the outpatients of Union Hospital and provided mechanical equipment for crippled children. Medical equipment was provided for the Rose Hawthorne Lathrop Cancer Home and the Cerebral Palsy Training Center. The club provided a cabin at the Noquochoke Scout Reservation. Known as "Rotary Hut", it was not the last contribution the club made to Scouting, as through the years a variety of equipment was provided. Rotary’s Scouting interest reached new heights in 1970 with the construction of the "All-Faith Chapel".

Camperships for deserving boys and girls have been provided by the club for many years. A student loan program was operated by the club, which was of great help during the depression years.

Through the years the club’s contributions, together with those of all other Rotary Clubs throughout the world, helped make it possible for hundreds of boys and girls of many races to study in different countries. Recipients of these fellowships, sponsored by our club, included James C. Chace, who studied at the Sorbonne, Gertrude Ostheimer, who studied at the University of Cambridge, and Robert King, who studied at the University of Lisbon.

Rotarians of Fall River gave much of themselves to the community through their club as members acted for years as counselors to local youth in matters of education and vocation. An annual "Boys’ Week" was a major project for many years, involving Rotarians and students in special programs, a parade and a sports program at North Park.

Spearheaded by the club, a $22,000 project for playground equipment was successfully completed. The club contributed to the establishment of a Marine Museum in the city. It furnished kitchen equipment for the new Thomas Chew Boys Club. Furnishings were supplied for the Youth Game Room at the Salvation Army. The club spearheaded the clean up of the Quequechan River basin.

With the help of the Union-Truesdale Hospital, the club supplied $10,000 worth of equipment to furnish an intensive care unit at the Santa Marta, Colombia Hospital. The club provided the necessary funds to establish a Junior Achievement Program in Fall River, and has further supported the program each year since. The club raised over $27,000 (and obtained a matching grant of $25,000 from the Charlton Foundation) for Rotary International’s Polio Plus Campaign — to immunize the world’s children against childhood diseases.

Recent undertakings of the club included collecting and packing 37,800 books for shipment to the Philippines, and sponsorship of the Character Education Program in twenty-seven Fall River and two Swansea Elementary Schools.

Accepting its responsibility to further the opportunities in Rotary, Fall River was the sponsor of the Newport, Rhode Island club.

No brief history such as this can ever be satisfactory. It would take a substantial book to tell the story of the Rotary Club of Fall River, and even then the story would never really be told. The historian can recite the facts and figures, but it takes a philosopher to speak of what’s in the hearts of men. And what has been in the hearts of Fall River Rotarians, past and present, can’t be described in factual terms and thus can never really be memorialized. We only know that all of them SERVED...

The companies represented by the charter members of the Fall River Rotary Club? With a bit of help from Mrs. Brigham and the Fall River Historical Society, I have finally been able to piece it together:

Frank H. Borden - Metacomet National Bank

Oliver H. Cherry - Cherry & Webb Company

Horace A. Davis - Burke & Davis Men’s Furnishings

Harry E. Dodge - Secretary, Y.M.C.A.

George Dover - Dover Press

William E. Fawcett - Treasurer, J. O’Neill Hardware

Herbert H. Hewitt - Maple Street Laundry

Michael T. Hudner - Hudner Markets

Frank H. Kingsley - Borden & Remington

Thomas F. McGuire - Fall River Trust Company

Asa A. Mills - R. A. Mc Whirr Company

W. Irving Pierce - W. Irving Pierce, Jobbers

Robert W. Powers - R. W. Powers, Hudson & Essex Automobiles

Everett N. Slade - John P. Slade & Sons Insurance

Daniel F. Sullivan - D. F. Sullivan Shoes

John T. Swift - Treasurer, Citizens Savings Bank

Charles H. Warner - Cobb Bates & Yerxa Co., Groceries

William T. Welch - Dowty & Welch Electric Company

W. D. Wilmot - Wilmot Store, Bicycles & Sporting Goods

The first Director’s Meeting was held on December 11, 1920. The following new members were accepted:

Edwin J. Cole, Henry McGrady, and C.R. Padelford

The next Director’s Meeting was held on January 12, 1921. The following were elected to membership:

Fred Rudd, Harold Barker and Edward Hartley

At this same meeting, Samuel E. Robinson (Fall River Trust Company) was elected Sergeant-At-Arms. He was neither a Charter Member, nor was he elected to membership at either Board meeting. Actually, he was elected to membership at a regular club meeting on November 16, 1920.- two weeks before the club was organized, but he is not considered a "Charter Member".

There were four members in this club with the surname "SMALL". There was Reuben T. Small, Ralph Small, R. C. Small and Elisha Small. Reuben appears to have joined the club in 1922, dropped out some time later, then rejoined on December 17, 1936. His classification is shown as "Poultry Farmer", and his farm was in Westport. He appears never to have been an officer or director. He is mentioned twice in the records we have:

November 5, 1959: "President George Hopkins ... adorned Reuben Small with a 30 year perfect attendance lapel button in recognition of his enviable record."

October 25, 1962: "In Memoriam - Reuben T. Small, 1882 - 1962. Senior Active Member, over 33 years of perfect attendance. Donor of our club song books. Cheerful, friendly, most faithful member. True example of ‘He Profits Most Who Serves Best’ ."

Forrest Knight was appointed a committee of one to arrange a memorial to Reuben - hence, the lectern.

This dates back to March 15, 1924. It was made by George Dover and Charlie Bradbury. Since Charlie’s classification was shown as "Carpenter", I would assume he built the case and George finished it, including the lettering.

The age of the pot in unknown, but it first appeared in the club in 1966. At a Board of Director’s meeting held at the home of President Paul Amiot, it was decided that fining would be started lightly, but with a definite purpose, such as encouraging on time attendance and staying through the full length of the meeting. This was on July 13, 1966. On the following week the pot showed up at the Rotary meeting, suitably decorated. No mention was made as to the donor. The next mention of the pot was in the bulletin of July 28, 1966, after only one week’s use - Hank France complained that the pot needed a soft bottom because "it’s rather noisy!" Since Henry carried on a running feud with Ray Cheney, I always suspected that Ray donated the pot.

The year is 1922 - Dan Sullivan is President of the Fall River Rotary Club, one of the 1073 clubs in the International Association of Rotary Clubs. Rotarians worldwide are estimated at 75,000, and the Fall River Club has 103 members.

LADIES NIGHT! - January 18 - Hotel Mellen - Joe Chappelle of Boston is speaker - Thomas Blood, the entertainer, a character sketch artist. Dancing is to Conner’s Orchestra. The cost is $3.00 per person.

Club bulletins show the main interest is Prohibition. "Rotary, of all organizations, should stand for law enforcement, especially when it applies to Prohibition." "Prohibition will win out in America. The forces of opposition will find that they cannot get the 18th Amendment off the records ... Americans are not going to be

humiliated by bowing before the bootleggers, paying their price, both monetarily and morally.

April 20 - Rotary Election Day. There are 16 nominations for president, 23 for vice-president, 4 for secretary, 8 for treasurer and 44 for directors. Dan Sullivan is re-elected president.

Summer - a time for picnics, clambakes ... The Salvation Army has an outing for 500 mothers and children at Sandy Beach. Rotarians are asked to make their cars available for transportation. The Board of Directors voted to finance the cost of street cars to transport children from the various parks to the North Park for the "PLAY FESTIVAL."

August 10 - our speakers are Mrs. Elizabeth Lawrence and Miss Esther O’Neill, Fall River’s first policewoman.

A report from Henry McGrady states that "investigations have revealed that there are a number of worthy boys and girls who want to go to High School. An afternoon or Saturday job will make this possible, with here and there a little financial help from the Club.

1922 humor: Rotarian - "Do you know why I’m like a mule?" Wife - "I know you ARE, but I don’t know WHY YOU ARE."

The Second Anniversary meeting - October 25, 1922. The speaker - Ray J. Knoeppel; the entertainer - Herbert A. Taylor, magician, comedian and juggler. This is an informal dinner - "MEN ONLY" - at a cost of $3.00 to cover the entertainment.

‘I had intended to leave at 1:15 as I do not care to hear women speakers, but after Miss Slattery had spoken for five minutes, you could not have pulled me out with a derrick." Miss Slattery’s talk on taking or stealing peanuts, riding free on street cars, paying dishonest fares on trains, etc., was well received.

Early November the New Bedford Rotary Club presented the Fall River Club with a new banner; the Fall River Club reciprocated the following week by presenting New Bedford with a ‘’bronze Rotary bell and bake-lite gavel."

November 15 - the "HUDNER COMMIITEE" presents its report on conditions, facts and needs relative to one phase of child life in Fall River. EVERY MEMBER REQUIRED TO BE PRESENT.

Final meeting of the year - COLLEGE DAY. Guests of the club are Durfee Football Team; members have college men as their guests.

"How much longer are we going to sing ‘there was an old man named Bill...hasn’t been sober since last October’ and that verse in Old MacDonald’s Farm about ‘there was a still’? They get a laugh, but they do not help a law enforcement program. They have no place in Rotary."

Rotary is not an organization like the Chamber of Commerce designed to engage in a number and variety of activities. Rotary is a movement; Rotary is an idea. A Rotarian carries the ideals and ethics of Rotary into every activity of his life - business - profession - home - lodge - social engagements - and his Church. A Rotarian does not need to proclaim that he is a Rotarian. His works and manner of living stamp him as a Rotarian, anywhere and everywhere.

On the other hand, a Rotary Club must have some big task to which it can conscientiously, persistently and effectively address itself. This club has been privileged to bring cheer to the mothers and children connected with the Salvation Army picnic by furnishing automobiles to transport these good folk to and from the picnic grounds. At Christmas time, the club again brought happiness and comfort to the kiddies at the Bishop Stang, St. Patrick’s and Ninth Street Day Nurseries. The management of these institutions were very appreciative of this kindness of the members of the Rotary Club.

These little acts of service in themselves reveal the spirit of Rotary, but there was a yearning for something bigger for the club to perform. There was regular he-man task needed in order that the members of this club might give expression to their desire for some part in a big enterprise that had to do with the community at large. This opportunity presented itself in the "Nutritional Campaign" for the school children of Fall River.

In June of 1922 a sub-committee of the General Welfare Committee (of the Rotary Club) was appointed, consisting of Rotarians M.T. Hudner, Chairman, George R. Mason, Secretary, Hon. Edward F. Hanify, Henry W. Nichols and Richard K. Hawes. This committee was charged with an investigation of the "malnutrition of school children." This committee made a thorough investigation of the condition of the school children and reported their facts to the Board of Directors on October the 5th. With this report, the Committee asked permission to consult with Dr. W.R.P. Emerson of Boston relative to this "nutritional work."

On November 10, 1922, the Board of Directors met at the home of President Dan to hear the report and recommendations of this committee. After a lengthy and thorough discussion by the Board of Directors, it was voted to recommend to the club that a "Nutritional Campaign" be conducted in our city under the leadership of Dr. Emerson and his co-workers. It was further voted that the club finance this campaign, which would cost approximately $4,000.00.

On the evening of Wednesday, November the 15th, the plan of the "Nutritional Campaign" was presented to the members of the club by Chairman Hudner and Dr. Emerson. The details were carefully explained and many questions asked and answered in order that every member might be thoroughly familiar with each phase of this enterprise. The club unanimously voted to approve the report of the Committee and the action of its Board of Directors.

On November 21, 1922 the Committee met in the Bradford Durfee Textile School with the representative of the twenty-five "Welfare Organizations" in Fall River, who, after hearing the plan outlined, heartily endorsed the "Nutritional Campaign" and pledged their hearty cooperation.

On November the 23rd, the Finance Committee made their report to the members of the club at their luncheon. In five minutes the $4,000 was subscribed - no member being asked to contribute more that $60, and each member to determine just what he would subscribe.

The "Nutritional Institute" was conducted by Dr. Emerson and his coworkers February 3-21, 1923, with splendid results. An actual demonstration in 6 schools was conducted by the Committee under the leadership of Mrs. Esther M. Young and Miss Bertha L. Southwick. In these 6 schools there were 6 classes with 110 children enrolled. The Secretary of the club had a child in the class at the Westall School. He personally testified that the "nutritional work" was worthwhile. The school principals and the teachers gave their most hearty cooperation, and the six physicians gave their best to this "nutritional work." Later on the Committee made a full report to the club. However, enough has already been accomplished to prove that the need for this "Nutritional work" is here, that the committee has been thorough in their work, and that the Fall River Rotary Club has promoted and financed an undertaking that will be of lasting benefit to this oncoming generation.

Harry E. Dodge, Secretary

The 1920’s were not the 1990’s. Fall River in 1920 had a population of 120,000, of which 22,000 were foreign born. Infant mortality had already been brought down to 110 per 1,000 from 220 per 1,000 in ten years, due to the efforts of the District Nursing Association. The national average in 1990 was 11 per 1,000.

It should be noted that the $4,000 raised in five minutes was in 1922 dollars worth considerably more than today’s dollars! Eventually, the club raised approximately $6,000 for the project. The "Nutritional Institute" did not pertain to the feeding of school children or the visiting of homes by an army of social workers. The aim of the project was to educate educators on nutrition — to train workers to attack the problem. The courses were conducted for physicians, teachers, nurses, and social workers, but anyone could attend. The cost of the institute was $25 per individual, but the Rotary Club paid $15 of each individual’s cost.

On December 1, 1923, the Mayor of Fall River recommended that the Board of Health appoint a supervisor for Nutritional Work in the schools. The aim of the Rotary Club had been accomplished. How successful was the "Nutritional Institute"? Drop by Heritage Park - look at the photographs on display - examine the faces and bodies of the youngsters pictured - then compare them to the youngsters in the schools today!

WTAB DEDICATES FRIDAY’S PROGRAM TO ROTARY BOYS. WTAB, the Fall River Herald’s new broadcasting station in the Hotel Mohican, will dedicate its program Friday night to the Rotary Clubs’ Boys’ Week observance. Appropriate addresses by men and boys and musical selections will be broadcast beginning at 7 and concluding at about 8.

FALL RIVER’S SCHOOLBOYS, 7,100 of them, between the ages of 8 and 18 years, passed review Saturday afternoon before a city that was more profoundly stirred, perhaps, than by any other demonstration in its history. For 50 minutes at any given point along the line of march, the spectators beheld a moving picture of boyhood that will stay vivid in their minds when most pictures have faded. Its significance moved some to applaud, some to profound silence and some to tears. The city was proud of its boys.

THE BOYS WERE NO LESS PROUD of the distinction that the day brought them. Shoulders squared, heads erect, muscles tense,—tramp, tramp, tramp, they marched from the South Park to the North Park, unmindful of distance, immune to weariness, their spirits exalted to the point where nothing short of utter collapse would have stopped them had the route been ten times as long.

PARTICULARLY WERE THE BOYS ON THEIR METAL as they passed the City Hall where the judges were at work and where they were reviewed by Mayor Talbot and other members of the city government, Mons. James E. Cassidy, Maj. Harry E. Skinner, Grand Army veterans, American Legion officers, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Spanish War Veterans, Sons of Veterans, and other invited guests. Little fellows trudging by, some with ‘eyes right’ after the military manner, some with their hands at salute, and others with uncovered heads, paying their tribute to their distinguished elders. Each of the public schools was headed by its principal, other than those schools where the principals are women. The women principals rode in automobiles near the end of the line. Many of the parochial schools were accompanied by clergymen, and every school was headed by a Rotarian.

THE BOY’S PARADE. The first "Boys’ Parade" of the Fall River Rotary Club has gone into history with as near a 100% success as it was possible for a "first parade" to be. There were 7,108 boys in line — not estimated or guessed at, but by actual count. Add to this six bands, the Rotarians and the school principals who marched with their respective schools, and there were at least 7,300 in the parade .... The scene at North Park will never be forgotten — 10,000 people banked on the hillside and around the other sides of the park, taking part in the patriotic songs and then watching their schools contend for the supremacy in athletic events, will go down into history as Fall River’s Big Red Letter Day.

EVERY SCHOOL COULD NOT WIN A PRIZE, but every school did their best to win a prize, and in it all, there was the finest spirit of friendly competition. The three judges, Jim Murray of New Bedford, Bob Hayes of Newport and Jim Barret of Providence, were unanimous in the awarding of prizes. The cup given by the Rotary Club for the "best appearance" was won by the Samuel Watson School. The "Governor’s Cup" for the highest percentage in line for school under 50 boys brought a tie between St. Vincent’s and St. Louis Schools. The "President’s Cup" for schools between 50 and 100 boys went to Dwelly Street. The "Chairman’s Cup" for schools over 100 boys brought a tie between Robeson, George B. Stone, James M. Aldrich, St. Stanislaus, W.S. Green and St. Joseph’s Schools.

THE WESTALL SCHOOL WON THE BANNER for the most points in athletic events, with 27 to their credit. The McDonough, Borden and Lincoln Schools were tied for second place with 11 points each. Davis School was third with 8 points. Sacred Heart, Highland and Wixon for 4th with 3 points each; and Dubuque, Espirito Santo and Fowler tied for 6th place with 1 point each.

THE "BOYS’ PARADE" WAS A BIG UNDERTAKING. It required careful planning and much hard work. In the last analysis our guess is that the Rotarians and other adults got as much, if not more, out of it all than did the boys themselves.

THE ACTUAL DEFICIT was only $434.64 on "Boy’s Week." Rotary gave $250 to Community Welfare from the proceeds of the Pop Concert. Add this $250 to the $434.64, and the total needed is $684.64. Our Rotary Club rendered one tremendous piece of unselfish service to Fall River. Now let us finish the job on Thursday by each Rotarian determining for himself just what proportion of this $684.64 is his fair share. In so giving you will feel the satisfaction of having done one more good turn as a Rotarian and as a citizen of a real honest-to-goodness city.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING - June 1, 1925. A letter was read from Elizabeth Davol and Florence Chase, asking the Fall River Rotary Club to put on a "Girl’s Week" similar to the one promoted for the boys of Fall River. The Secretary was instructed to reply to this letter.

All this material was taken from local newspaper articles of the time, the Rotary Club bulletins and minutes of the Directors’ meetings. The minutes of the June 1st meeting do not mention what the Secretary was instructed to reply. However, there has never been a "Girls’ Week" in Fall River.

In reading the old club bulletins, occasionally something strikes the eye - like the program of March 9, 1933: E. Lester Merritt on ‘’THE INAUGURATION" - an eye-witness account of the inauguration of President Roosevelt.

These were critical years. During the previous year the club had taken in two new members, but nine had resigned; in this year only one new member was added, but there were eleven resignations. The budget submitted at the beginning of the year showed anticipated revenue of $1,700, with expenses estimated at $1,770. On August 18, the cost of the luncheon dropped from one dollar to eighty-five cents. The bulletin announcing the Christmas Party said "Don’t overlook the fact that during the Christmas Party we take up a collection for the children of the Day Nurseries. Come prepared." "Come prepared." meant "be sure to bring an extra dime with you for the collection!"

Meetings were held at the Boy’s Club on Anawan Street, and were catered by Junius Sokoll. This is one of the very few years in which we find no complaints registered concerning the food! A Tri-Club meeting was held during the year at the Quequechan Club ($1.50 per person); and one meeting was held at the Fall River Bowling Green Club (McGowan and Pleasant Streets) "please wear rubber sole shoes or rubbers so that the greens may not be injured." Two meetings were held at the Cedar Park Health Camp. Follow these directions: "Go north on the cement road, Route 138, until just past Somerset where you come to the level stretch across Broad Cove. Turn left on North Street. Turn right at the top of the rise and you are at the Camp in a few minutes." Well, the Boys’ Club is now on Bedford Street, the Bowling Green Club was torn down for construction of Route 195; what is on the land formerly occupied by Cedar Park? Only the Quequechan Club remains!

Many of the programs were strictly for their entertainment value: a delightful half hour of song with Mrs. William S. Matthews and Mrs. James Brigham; Henry Nichols speaking on a cross-country automobile trip; Henry Wardel on his trip to the "Land of the Midnight Sun"; T.W. McDonough on "The Scenic Beauties of Jasper National Park"; Capt. Stanley Osborne whose subject was ‘’The Lure of Maori-Land"; and Russell Lake on "Fifteen Thousand Miles By Automobile." On February the 9th, the "speaker" was Buddy - hero of 150 films - successor to Rin-Tin-Tin - often called the world’s most intelligent dog.

The new member admitted to the club during the year was Rock Granite Taber. He spoke on September the 15th, and his subject was "HOW HE GOT HIS NAME." Unfortunately, the records do not tell us how, but perhaps Bob Plourde knows since Rock was with the Fall River Gas Works.

Local clergymen often spoke at these meetings: Rev. Gabriel R. Guedj, new pastor of the Baptist Temple; Rev. Edmund J. Cleveland of the Church of the Ascension; Rev. Albert C. Thomas of the First Baptist Church; Rev. Clarence E. Hellens of the Central Congregational Church; and Rev. W.R. Reid, pastor of the First Christian Church.

Here and there indications of the economy of those days creep into the bulletins. James Matthews of the Babson Institute spoke on the present economic situation "with a challenge to Rotary for leadership"; George Mason spoke on "Building for the Future"; Joel Eastman on "The National Economy League - Its Aims and Purposes"; Charlie Ryan on "Bankruptcy Proceedings"; Lt. Governor Gasper Bacon on "The Present Economic and Political Situation"; and a series of meetings on "What Is the Country’s Greatest Need Today?"

From June 26 to 30, 1933, the Rotary International Convention was held in Boston. Unfortunately, all we have on this event is the notice that District Governor E. Lester Merritt (from Fall River) gave a report on the proceedings from the Rotary standpoint, and Charlie Hadley spoke on the "social good times" at the Convention.

The value of an unusual name?: Rock Granite Taber became a member on August 18, 1932, and eight months later, on April 20, 1933, he was elected vice president. Unfortunately, he resigned from the Club on July 21, 1933, so we will never know if he was elected because of his name or because he was an exceptional person!

The little things that make life sweet,

are worth their weight in gold;

They can’t be bought at any price,

and neither are they sold.

The little smiles, the kindly words,

That cheer us up each day,

are but a part of God’s great plan

to help us on our way.

In September, Germany invaded Poland, starting the Second World War. Actually, the war had little effect on the Club during this Rotary year. "God Bless America" was sung for the first time at a Rotary meeting in Fall River on September the 14th. The programs relating to the war were: October 11: THE PRESENT EUROPEAN SITUATION - Col. Charles Furlong; November 9: THE TRAINING OF RECRUITS - Lt. Cmdr. Karl Kinkaid; January 25: THE PANAMA CANAL DEFENSE - Capt. George Ford. Captain Ford’s talk ran half an hour over the allotted time — he was either a very good speaker or it was mighty cold out — everyone stayed to the end!

On August the 30th a clambake was held in Tiverton - cost was the usual luncheon price of $1.00. Plymouth Charter Night was held on February the 26th. 20 Rotarians from Fall River attended at a cost of $1.50 each. Warren’s Charter Night was held on May the 28th, with 11 Fall River Rotarians attending.

The District Fall Conclave was held at Oyster Harbor, Cape Cod. Registration was $3.00 for men, $2.00 for women; cost of the banquet was $1.50 per person; and double rooms at the Oyster House were $7.00 per night. 12 Fall River Rotarians attended, and the main speaker was none other than PAUL HARRIS.

The Spring Conference was held at the New Bedford Hotel. 44 Fall River Rotarians attended. A golf tournament was held at the New Bedford Country Club, and greens fees were $1.00. Mrs. Sumner Waring won a case of applesauce at the Conference. I hope Sumner liked applesauce - a case should last forever.

Other programs: On November the 16th, a slide show and movie on the NEW YORK WORLD’S FAIR; the CHRISTMAS PARTY - Durfee Glee Club sons and daughters of Rotarians invited at 50 cents each; December the 14th - THE WAGES AND HOUR LAW; June the 13th - Benjamin Anderson of Georgia, a student at Andover-Newton, on NEGRO MUSIC AND ITS INTERPOLATIONS.

An attendance contest was held from December 3 to February 13 between the Bristol, Newport, New Bedford and Fall River Clubs. The contest was won by Newport with 96.24%, followed by Bristol, 95.11 %, then Fall River, 90.83%, and New Bedford trailing with 88.28%. Fall River and New Bedford had to pay for the Newport Rotarians’ meals at a dinner held in Newport; Bristol paid for the entertainment. Incidentally, 35 Fall River Rotarians had 100% attendance during the contest period.

Rotary International celebrated its 35th Anniversary and on February the 1st two programs were carried by WSAR featuring Rotary.

The 64th member inducted during the year was ISRAEL T. ALMY, father of our own Tom Almy; and the 65th member was inducted on June the 20th: DEL PARROTT. Del was to become a director two years later, then Vice President and finally President in 1945. And on June 20, 1989, Del celebrated his 50th Anniversary with the Fall River Rotary Club.

to be continued...