20's

In the twenties the Club had grown to thirty-five members and three honorary members. Its bulletin, "The Weekly Whizz", appeared. The following committees were functioning: Program, Education, Publicity, Music, Auditing, and Caterer. Dues were $60 per year, and the working budget was $2,369.21. Immediate past President, Dr. John Andrew, was elected Governor of District Seven (1923-24). During his term as governor, the Seventh District invited Rotary International to hold the 1925 convention in Estes Park.

30's

Longmont Rotary seemed to reflect, at least to some degree, the depression of the "thirties". Records of activities are few and brief. Dues were reduced to $50 per year; membership remained constant at a level of 31. Charles A. Gunning was elected President for 1935-36. Programs included: B. R. Oakes, Coach at CU; Dr. W. E. Eden on Burma; Al Mayfield on "Newspaper Week"; and Gray Secor, of the club, spoke of the problem of drunks at the CU - Aggies football game.

40's

In the "forties" dues remained at $12.50 per quarter. The Board of Directories met at Oscar's Fireside Inn. (Remember?) Membership had risen to 39, with three honoraries. The Rotary Bulletin was now called "The Gear Grindings." Dr. A. R. Masten talked about communicable diseases. District Governor R. Hicks Cagle sparked our activites with his warm conception of Rotary.

50's

Rotary kept step in the "fifties". Early on our membership averaged 55, but by the end of the decade it stood at 81. For the last time (on October 7, 1952) the Bulletin's name was changed to THE ROTOREADOR. It was also enlarged, and for the first time, mailed to the members.

60's

Longmont Rotary "soared in the sixties", and attendance averaged 85. The annual budget now exceeded $10,000 as compared with $1,641 in 1940. We won the competitive award at The District Conference. The

high school exchange student program was established. $1,500 was given to Scout Camp Ben Delatour and a Christmas party was given for all underprivileged children. We closed out the decade on June 17, 1969, celebrating our Fiftieth Anniversary. We wonder what Rotarians (writing in the 1945 Bulletin) had in mind when they mentioned "concern for inflation."

70's

Club Past President Dwight L. Sullivan served as District Governor of District 545 (later to become 5450) from 1973-74, making him the second District Governor from our club. Other highlights were the growth of our club above the 100 member level, and the involvement in major community service activities. Many younger men became Rotarians and their enthusiasm and energy were welcomed in the Club (helping to dispel the long standing belief that Rotary was the "old man's club" of Longmont).

The first all-club pictorial directory of Longmont Rotary, listing 106 members, was issued in 1972. It contained a detailed biographical sketch of each member along with addresses, phone numbers, etc. Our Rotoreador Editor Frank McDonough was awarded the District's Bemis Award for best newsletter of the year in 1973-74.

Our Club activities were directed towards (1) hosting the Longmont Centennial Founding Families picnic; (2) hosting of the first group study exchange team to our District (from Wales) in 1970; (3) hosting the District Assembly at the District conference; and originating the combined Service Club Banquet. Our district-wide reputation for good food, good programs and good fellowship remained throughout this period, attracting many Rotary members from near and far to make up in Longmont. Our members supported the Rotary International Foundation and with it the RI program of International scholarships, world service projects, and group study exchanges.

80's

The primary highlights of the '80s were the ways in which the Longmont Rotary Club set and accomplished its goals and its increased community service activity. Two events which stand out were Longmont Rotary's sponsoring the new Longmont Twin Peaks Rotary Club in 1985; and the Rotary International Founding fund

raising effort for the PolioPlus program from 1987-90. The latter resulted in Longmont Rotary's greatest monetary commitment of $36,000 pledged to PolioPlus, as well as substantial contributions by members to our own Longmont Rotary Charity Fund, originating in 1984 to be used for our local charities. In the last 1980's several annual dinner/auction events raised over $5,000 each year, earmarked for community service. Longmont Rotary was now in a financial position to expand some $5,000 on worthy community services annually - including the Longmont Symphony, Y.M.C.A., the O.U.R. Center, The Senior Center, the P.A.T. programs, the Women in Crisis and many others. In 1987, with approval of RI, we added our first women members to the Longmont Rotary Club. Starting with Bonnie Lynch, our pianist for many years, as an honorary member. Soon after, we included Judy Haines, Samuella Emrich and Judith Grytdahl as our first regular female club members.

90's

The decade which brings LRC to its 80th anniversary has witnessed strong club leadership, keeping the club a growing, vital force in the community and in District 5450. Membership continued at about 150. We've lost some great Rotarians due to death but have replenished with many community leaders of the younger set. We now have 26 women members. We've been instrumental in chartering new clubs: Coal Creek in 1990, St. Vrain in 1998 and Krasnoyarsk, Russia in 1999.

Giving to the Rotary Foundation has resulted in LRC receiving the District Ray Jenkins Award for the highest per capita annual contributions three times. Significant amounts have been contributed from the estates of Dr. Harry Jones, Don Hildreth and Don's wife. Our all-time giving to The Foundation is now at $340,000 with another $33,000 to the PolioPlus project. Of the 140 Paul Harris Fellows, 91 members, or their relatives, are currently active.

The Longmont Rotary Charity Fund continues to grow and now has $140,000 in its investment fund.

Members contribute an average of $5,500 each year. The Ted Schey Memorial Golf Tournament is a new major fundraiser with proceeds going to the Charity Fund and to the club's charitable activities.

Ongoing programs such as Student Achievement Awards, Compassion Awards, Four-way Test Vocational Awards and the Rural-Urban event have been joined by the Winter Warmth Coat Drive and maintaining of Roger's Grove and Jim Hamm Park.

The club continues its active role in the Youth Exchange Program, Group Study Exchange, Friendship Exchange (especially with Australia and New Zealand), Rotary Home Exchange, and RYLA.

In 1993 the Club chose Ivan Peterson to become its first Executive Secretary; in 1994-95 the Club was recognized as the outstanding club in District 5450 by District Governor Don Goe. P.K. Bonde became District Governor in 1997-98; the third from the Longmont Rotary Club for this District. The club worked proudly with Governor P.K. to provide leadership for District 5450, culminating with an outstanding conference at the Broadmoor. Conference chair Jim Kauffman and his committee were the very best.

Through the excellent leadership of our Presidents, the club continues to grow and be of service to the community.

2000's

The turn of the century brings us our first female president, Deby Edwards with Karen Hicks serving as President Elect. Our dues are now $135 per quarter with a working budget of over $86,000. We have 156 members and 5 honorary members. The Longmont Rotary Charity Fund now has an endowment fund balance of $198,133.04 and made total disbursements of $22,245.73 during the year 2000.

Three of our members have become Charter Members of the Bequest Society, a new program with Rotary International.

We continue to attract young, energetic members further dispelling the notion of this being an "old men's club!" The Winter Warmth Coat Drive was a huge success with over 2,100 coats being collected and cleaned, in addition to sweaters, hats, gloves, boots, etc. We were able to donate $5,000 to The O.U.R. Center through the efforts of an auction held in conjunction with the Anderson Farm Steak Fry. The Interact Club continues to thrive at LHS. The Ted Schey Annual Golf Tournament continues to bring in approximately $10,000 annually to be used for special projects within the community.

2003 saw the first of our annual Casino Nights in which we netted approximately $21,500 for the final push to eradicate polio. The three Longmont clubs joined in this effort for PolioPlus. During the 2003-04 year, we assisted in the city-wide development of a new Interact Club and sponsored a very enthusiastic Rotoract Club.

We celebrated our 85th anniversary in June, 2004 with a well-attended party honoring the ten individuals who have been a member of the Longmont Rotary Club for over 40 years. Recorded interviews of some of the "over 40" crowd, honored guests and a large birthday cake were highlights for the 200+ guests in attendance.

RI requested that each club select a "Centennial Project" to coincide with the 100 year anniversary in 2005. Our three-club project, a bridge in the expanding St. Vrain Greenway, was dedicated by the City of Longmont on Sept 7, 2004.

Our International involvement is expanding as we continue to host teams of Russian leaders through the Library of Congress Russian Leadership Program, host GSE Teams from around the world and send our own members to lead GSE teams abroad. Dick Richards was the first recipient of the Jim Kanemoto International Compassion and Service Award for his involvement in the above mentioned Russian Leadership Program followed by Gordon Pedrow for his work in Mali on a fresh water project. Our local student, Katie Krohne, won the Ambassadorial Scholar award and recently completed her studies in Germany. We continue to host exchange students.

We established a very active social committee, chaired by Cindy Noble, that has brought greater camaraderie among members and lots of variety in activities. A recent Nostalgia Night was held to raise funds for the PolioPlus drive. A Literacy Committee was formed through the efforts of President Edwina Salazar-Waldrip and we are now actively assisting one of our schools in their literacy program as well as donating books and supplies to schools in the Philippines and Nicaragua. A book is also donated to the local library as a speaker's gift.

The Four-Way Test program at Longmont High School is a huge success and we continue to get invited back - now holding 2-day sessions both spring and fall.

We will be celebrating our 90th Anniversary in June of 2009 and have thus far accepted 26 new members into our club this year alone.