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HOW WE GOT TO ROTARY CONVENTIONS, 80 YEARS AGO. An essay by RGHF secretary Norm Winterbottom, New Zealand.
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Travel to the 1930 Chicago Convention
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..."Messages were conveyed by mail which could take more than 30 days to travel from one hemisphere to their destination in the other. The fastest means of communication was by telegraph. No internet, nor cell phones, nor Blackberries in those simpler times. Of necessity, letters were precise in their meaning and carefully phrased, although, reading them today we view them as stilted in their construction and grammar. How, one wonders, will future generations, accustomed to text messaging, and whatever yet to be devised electronic devices, adequately communicate across language barriers.
Before the advent of mass air travel, intense cross-border security, lengthy queues at airline terminals and the convenience of the ubiquitous credit card; travellers cheques or letters of credit issued by banks were the means of accessing foreign currency. Travel was by steamship and railroad. Journeys from countries such as Australia and New Zealand to the West Coast of the United States took eighteen days and to Great Britain thirty-one at best. The cost in time and money to those dedicated Rotarians who made the odysseys to Conventions was not inconsiderable as they were away from their businesses and professions for up to three months. It is documented that the British Rotarians attending the 1930 Convention in Chicago sailed from Southampton on June 7 and on arrival at New York then travelled to Chicago via Philadelphia and Washington, arriving in Chicago on June 22. Following the Convention they returned to Britain via Toronto and Montreal in Canada, eventually arriving in England on July 7. In many cases, those forays possibly constituted annual holidays, but they also were a valuable opportunity to establish friendships within the group as well as with Rotarians in other lands, thus establishing the firm bonds in Fellowship that is Rotary's strength...." Full essay
Join RGHF, in Bangkok: HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP BOOTH #919 IMPACT CENTER AT BANGKOK
Membership meeting 4-6PM Saturday 5 May, Sapphire room 112 IMPACT CENTER
Open meeting on Rotary's History, Tuesday 8 May 2:30 PM, Sapphire room 108 IMPACT CENTER.
Less than two days travel!
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Greetings!
 | | RGHF - Rotary's Memory since 11 October 2000 |
RGHF presents:
RGHF History Day
Beginning in June 2012, this feature will be a combined monthly newsletter for all subscribers. Any RGHF membership features will be added to our members' only newsletter, for paid members only www.joinrghf.org
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 | | History Day at RGHF, honoring the First 100 Clubs of Rotary |
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WHEN DID ROTARY BECOME "INTERNATIONAL?" Winnipeg, was *organized on 3 November 1910 and chartered on 13 April 1912. Rotary continued to be called the "National Association of Rotary Clubs" until after the "Charter" of Winnipeg and the convention of 1912 in Duluth, Minnesota, USA. At that time, Rotary became the International Association of Rotary Clubs. London was also chartered that year.
So, when did Rotary become "international?" Most early clubs and even clubs today have an attachment to their "organizational" date rather than their "Charter." But, "officially" it would have to be said that in 1910, there was a club "organized" outside of the US. Therefore we were an "international" organization, were we not? But, Rotary did not "officially" call itself "international" until August 1912. Bottom line: Rotary became "International" in 1910!
And that's your "Four Way Test" for today!
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ATTENTION FUTURE ROTARY OFFICERS
If you, or a Rotarian you know, is about to be nominated or elected as a future district governor, now is the time for you/them to join RGHF
Five years of RGHF for just $120. You can have a solid background in the Global History of Rotary by the time you/they serve as Rotary officers.
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Continue the conversation, with your comments, on our public Facebook page at www.historyfan.org
Beginning in June 2012, this feature will be a combined monthly newsletter for all subscribers. Any RGHF membership features will be added to our members' only newsletter, for paid members only www.joinrghf.org
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