Page 14 - 1983 Plymouth Rotary Annual Report

WE HAVE NOT BEEN IDLE

By Sam Hudson Chairman, History Committee

Since its first meeting on March 24, 1924, Plymouth Rotary has been
an active club, both collectively and in terms of the civic
achievements of its individual members.
In 1927, the club helped raise more than $200,000 to build the
Mayflower Hotel. We sent financial aid to Plymouth, England during
World War II. In 194 7, we raised funds to iiluminate the local high
school football field. In 1 9 5 1, we provided funds to build a hog barn
for 4 -H boys and girls at the Belleville exhibit grounds. In 195 6, we
raised $40,000 to help construct and operate the Crippled Children's
Center in lnster. In the same year, we raised $1,600 through our
first chicken barbecue to equip the Wing Street playground.
In 1960, we held our first "Fall Festival" in Kellogg Park, broadening
the chicken barbecue to include other organizations and activities.
The Fall Festival is now an annual at traction in the Plymouth
community, drawing people from all over Wayne County, and beyond.
In 196 7, we donated $5,000 to defray the cost of the fountain in
Kellogg Park. In 1 9 6 8, we donated $ 2 0, 0 0 0 over a five -year
period to help establish the school system's Rotary School Farm. In
1 9 7 2, we donated $ 1 0, 0 0 0 for our 5 0th anniversary projects,
including two kidney machines purchased for St. Mary Hospital.
The money raised from our Fall Festival participation, and from other
projects, is channeled through the Plymouth Rotary Foundation which
makes donations to a wide variety of local charitable and civic
projects too numerous to mention in this short resume.
Recent contributions have included a major donation toward the cost
of a double -decker English bus which the city purchased to provide
local service, and another $ 2 5, 0 0 0 toward the cost of the Plymouth
Gathering building constructed by the city for use in connection with
community events in Kellogg Park.
Plymouth Rotarians, as individuals, also have made their marks in the
community during the past 59 years. At least 20 members of the
club have served on the Village or City Commission since 1 9 2 4. We
have had five village or city managers, three township board
officials, and two police chiefs as members of the club. This club has
contributed 11 Mayors to the City of Plymouth, and nine members
have been inducted into the Plymouth Hall of Fame.
A number of Plymouth Rotarians have been presidents of the
Plymouth Community Fund. We have had four municipal judges, four
state representatives, and a symphony conductor. In addition, four
of our members have been Rotary District Governors, four have
been school superintendents, and at least 1 2 have served on the
Plymouth Board of Education. One member was in charge of Wayne
County Schools for many years, and another member has served on
the board of trustees of Schoolcraft Community College.
There is no doubt that in its 59-year history, t he Plymouth Rotary
Club has been a service club in the fullest sense of the word. We
have served the community collectively, as demonstrated by the
many projects we have tackled, and we have served it individually,
as the record of achievement of our members also indicates.
It is a club to be proud of.

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