A tremendous amount of time, energy, labor and materials were given by Dave McQueen, Frank Taylor, Edgar Scroyer, George Needham, Ernest
Schaible and others in improving Rotary Pa& and getting it in the best condition for us in many years. And Rotary Park had the heaviest use by more groups than in several years past. There were two
Club Assemblies - one for the District Governor - and a second one for a review of the year's accomplishments. This second one was held in the Blue Room of the Lahr Hotel on May 1, 1956, which was the room where the
Club's 14 charter members held their first weekly luncheon just 40 years before.
Russ Mitchell received the "gavel" only after it passed through the hands of 17 of the past presidents; and then introduced a
seven-point program for the Club—much of which was achieved through the year.
A wider intra-club acquaintance and an increased spirit of fellowship among the members developed through the year. Attendance
steadily improved, reaching more than 70% average for the year. Monthly birthday tables were instituted. Club singing improved. New projects included weekly visitations of high school boys and foreign students from
Purdue; the sending of a girl to Girls State, and our contribution to the Southside Community Center Reconstruction project directed by the Tri Kappa Sorority, wherein our Frank Peter Riedel became "Mr. Wonderful" of
the Lafayette Civic Clubs. Rotary, through individual contributions, gave $866.
There were two ladies night parties—the first in the fall at the Trails to provide "an evening out for our best lady friend"
(wife or otherwise); and the second one our annual Inter-City Ladies Night with Al Stewart and the Purdue Glee Club. A record attendance was set of 502 that still stands. And there were two Rotary Information
Indoctrination Dinners held for the new Rotarians and their Rotaryanns.
The Board of Directors spent much time studying finance of the Club's activities. We would have to retrench in the face of the
increasing needs of our Youth of our community, or raise more funds. Thirteen Rotarians (still anonymous) contributed $375 to carry on the work of the Club toward the end of the year. The dues were then raised to $34
per year, and the entrance fee to $25.
Warren Maddox went to a YMCA World Conference in Paris, France. Warren admitted that he attended the French Follies—Earl McBee was there too.
Cecile
Harden, Indiana's Sixth District Congresswoman, and mother of Our Murray Harden, gave her impressions of the first session of the 84th Congress - "Mediocre." Our Rotaryanns were guests; arid the meal went down in
history as being the worst ever.
Rotarians lost to Kiwanis at golf, but beat them in ringing the bell for the Salvation Army Kettle.
Clyde Nichols was seen wearing a Texas size band-aid (12 inches long). George
Davis lost his place of entertaining our children at the Christmas Party to Mrs. Earl Harlan.
Cordy Hall won the plaque for the best story teller at the Rotary Club in the 1956 story telling program - A kindergarten
teacher in the great state of Texas was securing the names of boys and girls in the first class of the year. One Negro boy told her his name was "Opium Jones". The teacher thinking that the name was incorrect called the
boy's mother. "That's his right name," the mother replied. When the teacher explained that "Opium" was a dope—the mother replied, "That's my boy". And when the teacher continued by telling the mother that "Opium" was
illegal, "That's my boy" replied the mother. "And didn't you know that "Opium" Comes from the white poppy?" "That's my boy!" the mother exclaimed.
John Bachman, son of Bryant Bachman, went to Boys State.
A
telephone contact with the Rotary Club of Saint Lo, France was made by Jim Huston and Elton Hocking, as the program on June 5th, the12th anniversary of the Normandy landings that wiped out Saint Lo. Russ Mitchell's last
official act as president was to appoint Clyde Nichols as Club Historian.
