Page 9 - 2002 Plymouth Rotary State of the Club

other Rotary Clubs of the district to build the Crippled Children's Home in
Inkster.
Plymouth Rotary received outstanding international recognition for as-
sistance given to Plymouth, England during the Blitz of World War II. Between
June 30, 1940 and April 30, 1944, our sister city in England sustained 59 bomb-
ings with 448 residents killed and total casualties of 1172. Plymouth Rotary
sent food, clothing, money and above :µl, friendly letters of hope and encourage-
ment during those trying times.
In the late fifties, our club started a club picnic, serving barbecued chicken
and corn to assist members to become better acquainted. The first barbecues
were only for members and friends and totaled about 150 dinners. In 1960 the
barbecue was turned into the Plymouth Fall Festival. For more than thirty years
the high point of the festival has been "Chicken Sunday'', with as many as 16,000
dinners being prepared and served. The barbecue has provided us with a steady
source of income that has allowed us to do more for the community. In recent
years our Golf Classic has approached the barbecue in income, but nothing brings
us together and puts us in front of the community like the Chicken Barbeque.
Plymouth Rotary was one of the largest donors to the purchase of the
portable band shell and public address system that is used for entertainment at
the festival and throughout the year. We also were one of the largest donors in
the building of "The Gathering", which has allowed us to hold the barbecue,
even if it rains, and provides shelter for numerous events throughout the year.
We were also able to help beautify Kellogg Park with the addition of the Rotary
fountain. In recent years we have enhanced the fountain and taken charge of the
plantings in the median on Main Street.
Internationally we have furnished annual nursing scholarships to Nepal,
supported veterinary medicine clinics in Africa, helped to eradicate Polio, at-
tended international peace forums, supported youth exchanges and supported
one of our members providing dental assistance in Hong Kong and Jamaica.
In 1970, in honor of the first Rotary International president from our
district, it was decided to create the Dick Hedke Award to honor the best all
around club in the district. The first award was presented to the Plymouth
Rotary Club. On this years Hedke award we are again asked what is our most
important community service. Our most important community service is that
we are involved and ready to serve wherever needed. Over our 78-year history
there has seldom been a major event in the community that has not involved
members of the Plymouth Rotary Club and club members serve as directors of
most of the non-profit organizations in Plymouth.
None of the founding members of the Plymouth Rotary Club are still
alive, but they created a legacy that shall strive to serve the Plymouth and World
Communities for as long as there is a need.

- Compiled from previous club history records and updated for this program by
member William Morrison III.