Rotary Club of Saginaw (Saginaw, Michigan)
Dates
- Existence: 1914-02-01
Biography
NINETY THIRD ROTARY CLUB - CHARTERED 2/1/1914
Some of Saginaw's charter members begin to meet and discuss the possibility of Rotary in 1910, when there was a mere 16 Rotary clubs existing soley in the United States.
The 1910 gatherings were attempts to find ways that business and professional people could become better acquainted and understand each other. In August of 1912 it was decided to meet weekly on a Wednesday. In March of 1913 they invited the president and past president of the Detroit Rotary Club to an evening meeting.
On Nov. 19, 1913 an organizational meeting was held with 24 members. Applicaton for Rotary membership was mailed on Dec. 29, 1913. On Dec. 31, 1913 Rotary International told Saginaw to prepare bylaws and make constitutional changes. This led to the Feb. 1, 1914 charter under Rotary International President Russell F. Greiner.
The history of Saginaw and our country can be traced through the classifications of Rotarians in the Saginaw club, through its minutes and through its programs. Saginaw Rotarians have been concerned with their club, the community, their vocations, and international service.
In 1917, the club headed a city-wide organization of the Boy Scouts. In 1925, it acquired Camp Rotary which now consists of more than 1,000 acres with a 30-acre spring fed lake. The camp is leased to the Boy Scouts for a $1 a year.
Rotarians organized the predecessor to the United Way, combined three separate libraries into one system, built the first chamber of commerce building and organized the first city planning commission. The East and West Side School Districts were consolidated as were the U.S. Post Offices. A Rotarian is credited for developing Saginaw's strong city manager government, which became a model for cities.
Saginaw has had humanitarian projects in South Korea, Brazil, India and Haiti. A sister club relationship exists with the Tokushima West Japan Rotary Club.
Saginaw had from its membership a Michigan governor, a U.S. Secretary of the Army, a U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, a U.S. Supreme Court candidate, the head of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee and numerous other civic elected or appointed officials.
(Text taken from website, August 2024)