West Jax Rotary

Vocational Service:

“No other club in District 697 is doing more in the field of Vocational Service than the Rotary Club of West Jacksonville.”

This appraisal is that of a person in the best possible position to know what the 36 clubs in the district were doing to achieve one of rotary’s highest objectives, the District Governor, for 1983-1984 the District Governor was Dick Anderson. His statement was made after his annual visits to all the clubs in the District. A great deal of the credit for our achievement is due to the leadership of Davis M. Johnson serving a second year in this capacity.

The four areas of service and the accomplishments in each:

1. Occupational Information - this program seeks to increase awareness among young people of the many careers and professions to which they may aspire and the vital importance of high standards and ethics in the business world. “Bo” Cotton, Chairman of this committee, in a luncheon talk described how he, as Dean of Student Development at Florida Junior College, Kent Campus, stressed these values in all his relationships with students and teachers. In cooperation with the North Florida Council of the Boy Scouts, several of our members explained their businesses and professions to the students of Jeff Davis and Stillwell Schools. To promote the endeavor, “Bo” Cotton, with Board approval, raised $500. Several Members had seniors of high schools spend a half day or full day visiting their plants.

2. The Four Way Test - As in past years, some thirty members this year visited the homerooms of the Lee School one morning and explained the values of the Test. Each homeroom was given a plaque containing the elements of the test to post on their bulletin board. The program on an experimental basis was extended to include the other high schools within our territorial boundaries. Several members this year for the first time had the text of the Four Way Test printed on their business stationery.

3. Employer-Employee Relations - Each member was invited to have as our luncheon guest a “key” employee as their and the club’s “thank you” for making it possible for the member to take time off his job to attend our meetings and participate in its activities. As each “key” guest was introduced by his “boss,” the members responded with loud hand clapping.

4. Brig Lecture at the N.A.S. - This was the very first program instituted by our club at its 1967 founding and always has been highly successful, much worthwhile to the young sailors in the brig, and appreciated by the various C.O.’s over the years. This year the lectures were expanded from bi-weekly to weekly. More stress, too, has been laid on explaining jobs open to them in the local community, their nature, requirements, hours, and pay. On an experimental basis, efforts were made to place a few sailors in jobs after their discharge

Exchange Students:

This year we hosted two youths from Brazil and each 18 years old, Edwardo Prates and Christina Barbos. They arrived in August and attended Lee High School. Curiously both are aiming for careers in architecture. While here for the academic year, Christina stayed with the Gill and Bullard families; Edwardo was housed with the Colledges and Basfords.

Attendance:

Several new highs were reached. A new high for a single meeting, 93.5%, July 10; a new monthly high, 92.4% for July, 1983; a first quarter of 92%; year average 90.5% which placed our club within the ten highest in the District, we reached a new high also in total membership, 139.

Paul Harris Fellows:

During the year we had a 26% increase in Paul Harris Fellowships and a 54.5% increase in sustaining members over the previous year. We ended the year with 26 full fellowships and 23 sustaining. Thus over one third of our total membership were Fellows or in progress toward becoming one. Figures for 1982-1983 were announced showing that our club during the year contributed an even $9,000 to the Foundation. Only the “downtown club” and Gainesville surpassed us in the District, current indications (January 1984) suggest that for this year we will rate second, passed only by the much larger club in our neighborhood.

Horace Graham Memorial Award:

Our Annual Charity Grant of $5,000 was given to the Cerebral Palsy Foundation of Jacksonville. The award was presented by Warren Wood on June 27, 1984 to Mrs. Dorcas G. Tanner, Executive Director of the Foundation. The gift will enable the Foundation to erect a badly needed conference room. For the first time this year and henceforth our Annual Charity Grant will be called the Horace Graham Memorial Award in honor of our club founder, “Bud” Graham, who passed away in May of this year (1984). He survived his wife Lela only by a few months. Lela was well known by our members for her helping “Bud” preserve his 100% attendance. During the latter three or four years of his life, he was too weak and infirm to drive to and from our meetings yet he wanted to attend every luncheon meeting of the club which he founded in 1967. Lela would drive him to our meetings and await for him in an ante-room.

Other Gifts and Scholarship Grants:

The Club granted $1,000 scholarships to three students, Louise Giesler, Paxon; Elisia McSmith, Forrest; Denise Wilkins, White. The Club also assisted a deserving student with pocket money and transportation expenses. Another scholarship worth $1,100 was for a girl training to be a nurse. Besides a grant to aid the Boy Scouts in a Career day at one of our neighborhood schools (as stated above) a grant of $100 was given to the Families in Action to support their drug education program. For five consecutive weeks our club had as its luncheon guests four of the most outstanding students chosen by the faculties of the high schools in our territorial boundaries, Hilliard, Forrest, Lee, Paxon and White. The twenty students had distinguished themselves in one of the disciplines, either math, science, art, music or athletics. they attended with their parents and were introduced by a club member with a brief exposition of their achievements.

Fund Raising Project: Another “first” for the club was our public sponsorship of a project. The purpose was to raise funds for additional charity grants and scholarship. The club sponsored the well-known McNutt Memory Course held for two days at the Garden Club. The course attracted 273 persons from outside Rotary who aid over $20,000 in fees. The Club realized about $2,200 from the undertaking.

Police Officer of the Month:

The Club continued our policy of honoring each month a police officer selected by his superiors for ‘effort and achievements above and beyond the call of duty.” The officers arid their spouses were guests at our luncheon meetings, were introduced, and were presented with a $100 savings bond. The Roto News of the week carried a rather comprehensive story of their exploits. Those honored: James M. Gwyne, P.T. MeHale, Joe W. Turner, C. Thompson, Richard H. Siebler, John T. Venock, George M. Gallon, ‘Rusty” Rodgers, Justin D. Hall, and Robert W. Rigdon.

Honorable Members:

In September two naval captains were added to our membership as honorary members. Their election continues our intimate, friendly relationship with the C. O.’ s of Cecil field. The two: James T. Matheny, Commander Light Attack Wing One and Jack B. Austin, Commander Antisubmarine Unit One.

Meetings:

1. Club Assembly - An annual affair attended by the District Governors to hear from our officers what the club was doing and proposed to do. As usual, the affair was held at the Yacht Club and attended by a large percentage of our members. Every year the Governor has told us our assembly was the “best” he had visited with the largest number present, the enthusiasm high, and the programs current and proved the most effective. The editor of the Roto News attributes the large number present to the “fabulous food served by the Florida Yacht Club staff, under the direction of Kelly Corrigan, “soothing spirits, and fantastic fellowship.” He does not explain “soothing spirits.”

2. All Jax Club Conference - Held February 23 at the Sheraton St. John’s Hotel. All club meetings were cancelled for that week and their conference made a “must.” This year the conference memorialized the 78th birthday of Rotary. The guest speaker was Sir Philip Richardson, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Great Britain.”

3. District Meeting - Held on March 1-3 in Gainesville. Speakers included Dr. Henry Fishkind on Florida Economy and Col. Charles Scott, ranking military officer held as hostage by the Iranians, on his experience. Gov. Anderson presided; Walter watson handled reservations for our members.

4. Rotary International Convention - Held in Birmingham, England June 3-6, 1984 and was the first time the Convention was held in England. Dick Brooke attended as our representative.

Social & Sporting Affairs:

1. Tennis Meet held on Thursday afternoon before Club Assembly, on Yacht Club courts. For once the winner was not - repeat not - ______ Riley. The Championship cup was won by Bill Anderson; Fred Irving, runner-up; Wright Hollingsworth, third.

2. Dove Shoot - for all Northeast Florida Rotarians held at Ashland Ranch. The program: cocktails, brunch, hunting and fishing, cocktails, dinner, cocktails.

3. Golf Tournament - held at Ponte Vedra Country Club on December 9. Palmer Knight chaired the local delegation which included Ed Johnson, Jim Johnston, Art Draper, Larry Gill, Wilbur Margol, Irby Exley, Clayton Riley, Warren Jolley, and Paul Broome. Scores were not publicized and no reason given for their lack. Our own club annual Golf Outing and Social was held January 25, 1984 at the Ponce de Leon Hotel, St. Augustine. (The outing was in lieu of the regular meeting.) The members played golf in the afternoon and then enjoyed cocktails and dinner. No golf score announced but the Committee did report the cocktails and dinner as “excellent.”

4. Christmas Party - held in the beautifully decorated ballroom of the Yacht club on December 21, 1983. Members attended with their spouses and children whom they introduced. As usual, the feeling of friendly, good fellowship made our club appear more as a “family affair” than an association of businessmen and professionals.