Flashback
What Were Dunwody Rotarians Proud of 40 Years Ago?
As you probably know, the Rotary Club of Dunwoody will celebrate our 40th anniversary next May. A quick walk through the PAPER bulletins from our first year says a lot about who were are today:
- Membership growth: The Club grew from 35 to 51 members that first year - even with some turnover. "Someone offered each of us the opportunity to become a Rotarian - now we must pass on the favor to someone else." President Ernie Davis (1985-86) said "we must build for fellowship, friendliness and contagious enthusiasm."
- Rotary Scholarship Programs: The Club awarded its first scholarships as part of an essay contest - with four-year commitmets to students at Marist and Peachtree High. The Club also welcomed Mary Beth Robertson as a speaker, a 1981 graduate of Oglethorpe who received a Rotary Foundation Fellowship and used it to receive a BA in History and Honors in International Policies at the Victoria University in Wellington, New Zealand. I'm guessing this is the precursor to today's Global Grant Scholarship program, led at the District level by our own Kathy Brandt.
- Creation of the DeKalb Rotary Council: to "substantially increase the profile of Rotary" in the community. It talked about Council projects to honor teachers (then with an apple hand-delivered to each teacher at each school), Skill-a-Rama (where future club presidents Ed Godshall and Gordon Anderson served as judges for this DeKalb County Driver Education day) and Arrive Alive (a program that provided rides to and from prom in six metro Atlanta Counties).
- The first Dozens for Dinner parties held in February 1985: a program President Jack hopes to revive this year.
Interesting note: The bulletin also reported a 1985 tour of the Vogtle nuclear power plant under construction near Augusta - Units 1 and 2 went online in 1987 and 1989, and Unit 3 was activated this August.
Posted by Jackie Cuthbert
September 26, 2023