July 1st means a new year for Rotary the world over. For us it was the first meeting for our new president, Spotts Emrick,
with a line set-up of all committees. Spotts has made Purdue famous with his Military Band, and he is a man that eats, sleeps and lives Rotary twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Early in the first month he had
a Master schedule of Regular Weekly meetings, Directors Meetings and Committee Meetings for the coming twelve months.For several months we had many Naval, Army and Civilian war workers on the program. Lt. Comdr.
William H. Broclunan, Jr. told us of our submarine warfare in the Pacific; Ed Elliott told about his war work in Washington; Senator Willis of Angola, a former Governor of Rotary had a war message; and Frank Lewis' War
Emergency Committee held important meetings.
The President attended the Assembly at Anderson taking T. Fred Williams, Walt Gibson and the Secretary with him.
In September we went to Ed Rowley's Boy Scout Camp on
the Wildcat for an evening supper and an enjoyable camp fire, and during the same month a large delegation attended the Inter-City meeting at Attica.
Governor Dye made his official visit the first week in October. His
address was titled "Those who strive for merit shall attain success".
A Rotary Halloween Dinner Party was held at Lincoln Lodge with Bea Stahl Chief Goblin. Everyone stated that it was the best event of its
kind ever held by the Club.
A November meeting had as speaker, Chief Lightfoot of the Potawami Indians. "Chief Lightfoot" in all his war paint and feathers turned out to be, upon revealing his identity, our
genial Herman Phillips, Purdue's track coach.
The President took a small party to the Silver Anniversary of the Kokomo Club being welcomed by their President Ed Kaegi and Governor Dye.
Now comes the Annual
Christmas Party, and what a party. Spotts puts on spectacles with his band, and now he puts on a spectacle with his Christmas party. Held at the Educational Building of the Central Presbyterian Church it was a glorious
affair for the children, the Rotaryanns, and the members of the Club. A mammouth Christmas tree with a thousand lights and table decorations, it must have taken Spotts and Glenn several days to give us this spectacle.
Two wounded veterans of the war, both holders of the Purple Heart, related their experiences at a January meeting. Rotary Medallions were presented to fifteen Eagle Scouts at one of Sam Keller's Youth Builders'
Committee programs.
Frank Lewis gave us a speaker on Rationing and Inflation; Dave Pfendler brought three of his outstanding Winter Course students to the club and more war talks continued. We learned one day from
J. Holmes Martin that Indiana led all states in baby chick production, one hundred and five million.
Ten delegates attended the District Conference at Kokomo in April. An outstanding address was given at the luncheon
meeting by Bob Huen, "As I Remember Japan". At the Ladies Night Party at Lincoln Lodge, Governor Dye gave us a fine account of the Chicago International Convention; a Memorial Day program was one of the most
impressive of the year.
President Spotts' administration closed with a record—more members had been added to Club then in any preceding year.
