West Jax Rotary

Youth Exchange:

During this year the club became interested in one of Rotary International’s most successful programs, the International Youth Exchange. An Argentine youth, Gino Reale of Bahia Blanca, Jacksonville’s “sister city”, came to Jacksonville to attend high school for the 1969-1970 school year. For his ten month stay, he was housed by four club members’ families. Gino made such a favorable impression that the club for the following three years exchanged students with Bahia Blanca Rotary. In subsequent years Westside Rotary entered into exchange agreements with the Rotary Club of Santiago, Chile and clubs in Sweden.

Earthquake Aid:

In 1970 a catastrophic earthquake killed 60,000 persons in Peru and left countless thousands of others in need of food, clothing, shelter, and hospital care. President-Elect Sanford Mullen of the downtown club spoke at a club luncheon describing how his club was informed by shortwave radio that the Lima, Peru Rotary Club was appealing to Rotary clubs over the world for funds to aid the victims. Bill Gay moved that Westside Rotary raise a fund of at least $1,000.00 and pledged to make up the difference between the voluntary contributions and the amount pledged. The motion was passed unanimously. A local “ham” radio operation helped Westside Rotary members contact the Lima club to coordinate and facilitate the transfer of funds.
Interact:

After weeks of planning by the Interact Committee composed of Chairman Charlie Johnson, Neil Campbell, and Tom Floren, a club was organized at Forrest High. The members of the newly formed club were guests at the January 7 luncheon and presented its charter. The relationship between the clubs became a model of what a Rotary club can do with youths when a spirit of friendliness and mutual respect is established. Interact president Chip Kirkpatrick was invited to attend the weekly Rotary luncheons and monthly board meetings, which he did on several occasions. The club was asked to suggest names for consideration by the Scholarship Committee. Those recommended received “favorable attention.”

Bob Shircliff hosted the Interact members at his home on two occasions; one a “hot dog, Pepsi Cola, Swim-out”, the other a “swimming, water-skiing, and refreshment outing” later in the season.

Scho1arship:

The scholarship program kept Russell Newton and his committee busy interviewing candidates for the two scholarships still open. (The two previous awardees had done such outstanding work that their scholarships were renewed for the second year.) More than fifty candidates had applied for the two open scholarships. Newton himself interviewed twenty-five. He was so enthusiastic about the two finally selected that he gave them summer employment in his establishment. The club also found the record of an Interact member so outstanding that it granted him an “advance” scholarship of $500.00, which enabled him to attend summer school.

Brig Program:

It was found very early that not many businessmen, despite their good intentions, can effectively talk to youths in trouble. Rod Porter thus began to spend many hours instructing club speakers on what topics to discuss, how to do it, and setting up guidelines. Senior officers at the naval air station, highly skeptical of the program when the club took it over, again became enthusiastic, as the “brig” residents began to welcome the practical, viable advice that can be given only by businessmen and nonacademic professionals. The program was to continue for many years more or less under Rod’s philosophy and guidelines. Westside Rotary is probably the only Rotary club in the world with a program of this nature.

Club Assembly:

On the morning of November 5 District Gov. R. Gentry White met with the club’s officers and reviewed procedures, records, and programs. That night, he attended the club assembly program and heard reports by the directors of the four avenues of Rotary club services. Twenty-eight members attended the meeting, a number Shircliff said was “exceptional and outstanding.” He added he had attended club assemblies of several other groups and had never seen such a high percentage turnout. (The club’s membership was then seventy- one with two honorary members.) The following day at luncheon, Gov. White stated he was “greatly impressed” with the club’s procedures, financial records, and especially of its various action programs

The district assembly was held April 26-28 in St. Augustine. Westside Rotary was well represented with eleven members present.

Weekly luncheon speakers were again of high calibre: The two most prominent were Earl Faircloth (October 15) and Florida Lt. Coy. Roy Osborne (October 29). Doug Milne presented a trio of programs which certainly presented opposing views: a presentation by union officers; a second with management leaders; a third featuring managerial problems.

The club’s initial fee was raised from $25.00 to $50.00 to bring it in line with the fees of other area Rotary clubs.

Fellowship:

Four visitors from France were hosted by the club and given a “look-in” of Jacksonville. The Ladies Night Valentine Party was held February 11 at Timuquana Country Club, and a golf tournament was contested October 24 at Hidden Hills Country Club. The directors of Hidden Hills went all out to make the day completely enjoyable, even to the point of withholding scores of club members. Clate Riley was his inimitable self as he managed the club tennis tournament at Timuquana June 10. The club champs were Wright Hollingsworth and Dick Osgood.

Mrs. Lee Milliken was hired by the board to take over some details handled by the president, treasurer, and secretary. The Rotary International convention this year took place in Atlanta, Georgia from May 31- June 4. President Bob and Charlie Johnson represented the club.