Rotary Club Anniversary

 

Calgary Herald

21 Mar 1922

NACP0410

 

Calgary Rotary Club celebrates eight birthday.

 

Many Former Members Present Messages Received from Others.

 

            Members of the Calgary Rotary Club paid homage to Miss Grace Lydiatt the eight-year-old daughter of Jeff Lydiatt, himself a past president of the Calgary Rotary Club, as the representative of the club on the occasion of celebrating the eighth anniversary of the formation of the club at the luncheon in the Palliser hotel on Tuesday.

 

            It is appropriate that Jim Ryan, the first president of the Calgary Rotary Club should occupy the chair. After briefly outlining the early organization history he introduced Dug Howland and Bill Arden as two of the Rotarians present who, with himself and Tom Weir, now of Winnipeg had formed themselves into a committee of four to propound the principles of Rotary in Calgary.

 

            One of the features of the luncheon was the stunt provided by Walter Davidson, his monologue while introducing the past presidents of the club, and the respective members who joined during their respective regimes. Occasioning many a laugh. The members were introduced by priority, while a representative of the year sitting at the table occupied by dainty Miss Lydiatt, paid her homage on their behalf.

 

            At the conclusion, Miss Lydiatt was presented with a suitable engraved gold locket, the gift of the members.

 

Past Presidents

The past president of the Rotary Club are

 

1914-1915 – Jim Ryan

1915-1916 – Wilkie Fowler

1916-1917 – Dr. G.W. Kerby

1917-1918 – Jeff Lydiatt

1918-1919 – Lon Cavanaugh

1919-1920 – James W. Davidson

1920-1921 – Bill Marshull

1921-1923 – Fred Osborne

 

            Wilkie Fowler and Bill Marshall were the only absentees, both however sending messages of congratulations on the occasion of the Clubs’s birthday.

 

            “Rupo” McMurray contributed a pleasing feature to the progamme with his rendition of “Friends of Yesterday”, and with a southern melody as an encore.

 

            Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary was among the score who sent complimentary messages received by the club secretary.

 

            Fred Shouldice, one of the early members of the club spoke of the progress Rotary had made in Calgary, attributing it in no small measure to the spirit of the West, which had always been predominated by the spirit of service and friendship. “Service and friendship has always been exemplified in the West”, he declared and “Rotary has but helped to contribute to this characteristic.

 

            A birthday would not be complete without a birthday cake, and this was supplied for the occasion by Rube Ward. This cake a real example of the baker’s art, will be sent to the Colonel Belcher hospital as a gift from the club to the soldiers confined there.

 

            D.C. Coleman’s Neat Speech

 

            D.C. Coleman vice-president and general manager of the Canadian Pacific Railway Co., and a formerly a Calgarian, was introduced by President Osborne.

 

            He said in reply that it was always a sincere pleasure for him to visit Calgary, a city associated in his mind with many tender memories. It was a pleasure also to be present at a meeting of the Rotary Club, an organization that had done so much good work and has such high respect in all communities. The pest wish he could extend to Rotary club of Clagary was that it might always be a sweet in spirit as was little Miss Grace Lydiatt, the representative today of their eight years of existence.

 

Among the visitors were C.B. Bowman, of Lethbridge, D.C. Coleman, of Winnipeg, John MacMillan of Montreal, William Marshall of Winnipeg, Vic Campbell, of Saskatoon and John McFariane of Winnipeg.

 

            President Osborn announced that Mrs. C.S. Mcleod? And Mrs. Fred Johnston were seriously ill. Fred Sine, who is in hospital in Minneapolus, and P.J. Parker, were reported to be recovering but W.J. Watson was again laid up.

 

            Reports on the attendance records in District 19 were presented Kenora won the Shield for the biggest percentage of attendance for February was 91.49

 

            In inviting the Rotarians to attend their revue the Elks stated that Friday, March 31, 1922 had been set apart as “Rotary night”.

 

            A plea was made for a brisk? city beautiful campaign and Gordon Stewart “Bud” Campbell and Geerth? Gibson were appointed to make the necessary arrangements.

 

 

E. Howard 2005-01-05