By unanimous vote of the Rotaryanns of the Lafayette Rotary Club John Stemm's administration was pronounced a banner year. The reason—John had a Ladies Night on October 20th with Dean Enders, Cable Ball and Ken Dickinson in charge; John had a Ladies Night in February, a most successful affair with the ladies presenting the entire program; John had a Ladies Night in June with the Club entertaining the Attica-Williamsport Rotarians and their Anns.

At John's first meeting Fred Alexander presented the Club with new song books; and at the following meeting President John introduced his hand shaking stunt—a half dollar for the unknown numbered handshake. Never before or since have Rotarians shaken each others hands as they did this year.

Good programs followed successively throughout the year. Harry Crane came over from Frankfort one week; Dean Potter introduced his daughter who spoke on the "Youth Movement"; Eth Baugh and Taube began their annual grid views, Doctor Sears happily entertained the Club Thanksgiving week and Gordan Enders told of his work in China with the Grand Lama of Tibet.

The Club entertained the Foreign Students twice during the year; they had a Farmers' Day with each member host to farmer; there was the usual Short Course Agricultural boys report and the Christmas party for the Cary Home Children.

In July the Club voted to electrify Rotary Park, having been advised that in the near future the United States Rural Electrification would cover this district.

President John worked hard and successfully in the organization of the Attica Williamsport Club. Twice he took delegations to Attica and many times he went there alone. We remember one conference there with an International Secretary and several Lafayette Rotarians when President John became so absorbed in his problem that he used his dish of apple-butter for an ash tray, much of his distaste of the Corona-Corona.

The District Conference was held at Fort Wayne with President John and Mrs. Stemm, Andrew Fried, Eth Baugh, Lloyd Josselyn and several others in attendance. President John attended the Atlantic City International Convention the month preceding his inauguration, and rumor has it that he often visited the Council on Legislation and carefully listened to its deliberations. Three years later, if he could have looked ahead, he would be one of the Council, for as Governor of a District he would take part in its work.

Copyright © 2000 Lafayette Indiana Rotary Club.
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