FORMATION OF TAUPO ROTARY CLUB SPONSORED BY NAPIER

Taupo Times, Volume VI, Issue 284, 19 July 1957, Page 1

FORMATION OF TAUPO ROTARY CLUB SPONSORED BY NAPIER

A PROVISIONAL Rotary Club has been started at Taupo, following a survey by the Napier Rotary Club about two months ago. Napier was the sponsor club. Recently the District Governor of the southern region of the North Island, Mr Stuart Hayton, of New Plymouth, representatives of the sponsors, and three others from Levin attended a meeting here.

Mr Hayton explained to those present the steps to be taken to secure a charter from the parent body at Evanston, Illinois, and it was decided to make application for a charter. The following day a letter of application was sent through the approprlate channels to America. The provisional directors who were appointed at the meeting, now await word that the charter has been granted. PROVISIONAL DIRECTORS * The following are the provisional directors : President, Mr G. W. Foote ; vice-president, Mr C. Colson ; secretary, Mr K. S. Neill; treasurer, Mr J. Lockyer. / Mr Hayton outlined the principle objects of the club : Rotary's universal appeal, he said, offered a prac-

tical means of enlarging one's friendships, participating in communitybetterment undertakings, promoting high standards in business and professional life, and advancing international understanding, good will and peace. To attain its "Ideal of Service" to humanity, Rotary sought all which b rough t people together, and it avoided all which separated them, he said. In their broad programme of service work, Rotarians believed in the value of action based on unselfish motives. Mr Hayton emphasised that Rotary was not a secret organisation. It did not seek to supplant or to interfere with any religious or political organisation. It assumec that its programme of service was in accord with all religions, and it did not concern itself with a Rotarian's politics. § ORIGIN OF ROTARY Rotary expects him to be f aithful to his religion, and loyal in his citizenship," he said. The first Rotary Club was organised at Chicagb, Illinois, on February 23, 1905. From that beginning, the l

Rotary ideals of friendship, fellowship, and service to others, had spread to six cdntinents. They had been accepted by men of practically all nationalities, with many different political and religious belTefs, by more than 431,000 business and professional executives in 99 countries throughout the free world. Paul Harris, founder of the movement in 1905, named it the "Rotary Club" because originally its members met in rotation at their various places of business. Membership of the new club grew rapidly. It soon became too large to meet in the places of business of members, and they decided to ineet once each week around the luncheontable. Those weekly meetings are now held by Rotary Olubs all over the world.