With new vice-president Ev Wright presiding, the "Rotarian of the Year" was saluted. Herman Messing's life from babyhood to adulthood was
cleverly portrayed. Ev, with the help of members at a special table sang "Rock-a-By Baby," "School Days," "Over Hill, Over Dale," and "I Love You Truly," and did a great job of presenting the highlights of Herman's
life. Herman's father was present to enjoy the act. Girl State Governor Lana Ruegamet thanked Lafayette Rotary for her enjoyable experiences and for sponsoring her to Girls State.
Lafayette Rotary heartily adopted
a resolution endorsing Curtis Hostetter as candidate for the office of District Governor. Curt became the District Governor Nominee in the District Conference at Tipton, October 16. And Curt and his Rotaryann Catherine
had one of the greatest experiences of their lives at Lake Placid, New York, at the Rotary International induction of all the District Governors from all over the world the following day.
At the District Conference,
Hudlow, Sine, Wright, Mitchell, Hadley, Huston and Rotaryann Florence Huston put on a well-acted skit. Al Stewart and the Glee Club were part of the evening's program.
Jim Huston gave the Club a brief report of his
visit with the Saint-Lo, France Club—the Club which our Club talked with via phone June 5, 1956.
At the Club Assembly for Governor Don Wickizer, 27 of the 30 committees were represented and gave excellent reports.
Gov. Wickizer stated this was the finest Club assembly he had ever attended.
Our Rotary Dollar in Lafayette was spent last year as follows:
Rotary International: 35
Community Service: 32
Club Service: l7
Salaries: 11
Office Supplies: 3
International Service: 2
With Charlie Vaughan as M.C., Frank Peter Riedel was honored for his 40 years of perfect attendance.
George Davis was toastmaster for Charter Night for a new Rotary Club in District 656—Danville,
Indiana.
Ev Wright was chairman for the District Institute held in the Union Building on December 5th.
Frank Timberlake, the remaining charter member of our Club, became a patient of the Wabash Valley Sanitarium
(at this writing 3 1/2 years later Frank is still a patient, but we are told is not in pain and does not suffer.)
The Club was host to 50 4-H Adult leaders and instructors from four surrounding counties attending the
19th training conference.
A Rotaryann day with 70 Rotaryanns present heard the public relations director for E. I. DuPont, Robert T. DeVore; speak on "Strength for Tomorrow" at the noon meeting on February 18th
(Rotaryann Lucile Nichol's birthday).
Purdue Graduate Students from Foreign Land's who were getting advanced degrees in June were guests of the Club on May 20; our own John Bollard (Former Rotary Foundation Fellow
from New Zealand) talked to them on "The Scientist and Society."
The Rotary Information Committee under the chairmanship of Jimmie Williams, brought a series of 5-minute talks during the year:
George Davis on "The Object of Rotary"
Jim Huston on "The History of Rotary"
John Bradshaw on "The Rotary Foundation"
Dick Hadley on "Classification and Membership"
Jimmie Williams on "Lafayette Rotary"
Don Mallett on "Community Service"
Fifteen of our members brought 1/3 of the programs to our Club during the year—John Bollard (twice), Hanley Hammel, Norris Shreve, John Bradshaw (now General Bradshaw),
Art Tichenor, J. J. Stefaniak, Al Stewart (twice) Warren Maddox, Howard Knaus, Vern Breitwiser, Don Mallett, Ralph Caldwell, Richard Gripe, Herbert Hunsaker, and Cable Ball.
Three of our staunch and
faithful Rotarians of long standing became Rotarians Eternal—Frank Lewis, a Rotarian for 33 years; Elmer Waters, a Rotarian for 20 years; and Lloyd Josselyn, Lafayette Rotarian for 25 years, and 15 years
elsewhere—former President of Buffalo, New York; Lafayette President 1937-38; Club Secretary for 4 1/2 years; and the major author of the History of the Lafayette Rotary Club, 1955.
The Club gave Lafayette
Rotary Wheels to all visiting Rotarians from foreign countries; bought a banner stand for the new Club at Danvile; became a sponsor of Al Stewart's Purdue Musical Organizations; and gave $500 toward the purchase of 17
additional acres of land at Sycamore Valley Girl Scout Camp.
Our attendance record for May 1958 reached 81.76%, the highest ever attained to that date (since we began to climb from the bottom 10 in the nation) and we
were 15th out of 29 clubs in the district.
Ev Wright was installed as President three-weeks early so retiring President Earl McBee could go on a three-week Navy cruise—some secret stuff with the Navy.
