Frank Burrin, the new President of Lafayette Rotary, presented Robert Verplank, the outgoing President, a past president's pin and the
gold badge. A standing ovation was given to Bob for his good year as President. President Frank Burrin, in charting the course for the new Rotary year in Lafayette, read a message from R. I. President, James Conway.
The message called on all of us to renew Rotary life in our club, seek new fields of endeavor and not to be satisfied with status quo and to innovate. Frank indicated that the officers and board would follow many of the
plans of the Long Range Planning Committee as set forth in the study made over the past two years. Frank also indicated attention would be given to such new areas as the YMCA building program, Riley Hospital, Club laws
and constitution.
The Board approved President Burrin's suggestion that Rotary Board members preside at regular Tuesday Club meetings once each month. This means that all non-officer board members will each have a
chance to serve once during the coming months of this Rotary year.
The visit of George M. Small, Governor of District 656, to the Rotary Club of Lafayette was a highlight of the Rotary year. Governor Small spoke to
the Club about the problems of our times: "hippies", disrespect for law, demonstrations, outright revolution and violence. Governor Small urged Rotarians to "stand up and be counted" in the support of our country, our
churches, our schools and law enforcement in the fight against communism and other enemies to our way of life. In a later session with officers, directors, and committee chairmen, Governor Small reviewed objectives,
programs and problems, and gave helpful suggestions on many points. Later, Frank Burrin reported to the club that the District Governor was well pleased with the operation of Rotary in Lafayette, and that he had enjoyed
his official visit.
An interesting Rotary fact is that the average size of all Rotary clubs is 47.6 members. And, as of June 30, 1959, more than half of our Rotary clubs were in North America, but now (March 1970)
only 42 per cent.
A standard constitution and new By Laws, which had been distributed to members two weeks previously, were adopted by the Lafayette Rotary Club, without objection, on a motion by Verplank, seconded
by Taylor.
Hudlow, Lane, Verplank, and Gibson and their wives attended the International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia.
The thirty first annual Stag Party given by our club members at Rotary Park for Al Stewart's
internationally famous Purdue Varsity Glee Club was a huge success. Tickets at $5.00 cover one Rotarian and one Glee Club member. A number of Rotarians regularly purchase tickets even though they are unable to attend.
The request by William Smith for the use of Rotary Park by the YMCA for next summer, June 15 to August 21, was approved. The activities at Rotary Park by the YMCA are regarded as a real contribution by the Rotary Club
to the community. In addition, this year, a grant of $3,000 was made to the YMCA and a voice vote of the club accepted a $10 assessment for the project.
In connection with Lafayette Rotary's fiftieth
anniversary project, a box lunch was served, and large attendance was recorded at Fort Ouiatenon. Lafayette Rotary members had an opportunity to see first-hand the progress being made on the restoration of the Fort. Ted
Reser from the Tippecanoe County Historical Society gave a fine review of the Fort's history, and thanked Lafayette Rotary for the large contribution in aid of the restoration.
John W. Hicks, Assistant to
the President of Purdue, addressed the annual Citizenship-Scholarship Day for the top boy and girl student in each of the eight high schools of the County. It was a brief but forceful talk. We worry about the problems
of life discovered by our hearts and solved by our minds. Other guests at the annual Citizenship-Scholarship Day include the parents of the students and the high school principals and superintendents of the three school
corporations in the County. Each student is awarded a plaque, and selects a book to be placed in the high school library.
Father-Son Day brought an overflow audience that included fifty sons and grandsons of
Rotarians. Max Rumbaugh introduced the program, which was magnificent. Harold DeGroff spoke and the NASA film "Apollo II- For All Mankind" was presented. It was inspiring.
The Rotary-Kiwanis joint meeting was well
attended and Frank Burrin, President of Rotary, and Jack Albright, president of Kiwanis, shared the presiding duties. John U. Graham introduced the program that was directed by Roger Heath, Purdue Bands. Members of the
Purdue Varsity Band, three coeds and eleven men, presented a wide variety of folk tunes, Dixie and rock music, progressive jazz, and popular songs.
Harold Michael, traffic engineer, gave an excellent report on the
facts of traffic everywhere and in the greater Lafayette area in particular. With 100 million automobiles and 100 million drivers driving one trillion miles per year, one would expect traffic accidents. It is predicted
that traffic will double by 1990. Harold Michael pointed out the fact that all costs of running a car amount to $1.57 per gallon and that $1.40 of that is spent on the car and 17 cents on the highway.
E.J.
Bannon, president and chairman of the Board, Purdue National Bank, gave a report on the plans and progress of the new high-rise bank building being built on 'the half-block area bounded by Main, Columbia, and Third
Streets. The building will be 10 stories with the bank operation being on the first floor, parking on the second and third floors, and more banking operations to be on the fourth, fifth, and part of the sixth floors.
There will be 75,000 square feet of space to lease.
Ted Reser gave an interesting word picture of William Digby and the founding of Lafayette. Digby purchased the land at the Land Office in Crawfordsville
for $1.25 per acre and later sold 20 acres for $60 per acre.
Joseph N. Heath, Jr., Jefferson High School Basketball coach, gave Rotary members an account of the founding of the local unit of the
"Fellowship of Christian Athletes." It started nationally in 1954 and came to Jefferson last year. There axe 70 members at Jeff. You must be an athlete and must work in the church of your choice to become a member.
The Board authorized a new Lafayette Rotary Membership Directory.
Morris Crain reports: Rotary $1,685, Kiwanis $700 for the Salvation Army Christmas Fund.
Rotary International Scholarship Foundation
sends word of Lafayette Rotary's contribution this past year $461; cumulative total $7,955.75; needed to be 400 per cent club $684.25.
In May 1970 members with 100 per cent attendance for 1969-1970 and months of
continuous attendance were: Bain 38, Eth Baugh 191, Burrin 21, Ellis 64, Engeler 62, Gibson 111, Y. B. Hall 134, Hostetter 186, Hudlow 22 K. Kettelhut 42, Lane 104, Messing 65, Porsch 142, Jim Smith 28, William Smith
74, Steele 13, Taylor 65, Verplank 51, Williams 189, Wilson 395, Ev Wright 191.
In the world of science in 1969, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Edwin E. Aldrin became on July 20, 1969, the first men to walk on the
moon. Armstrong is a Purdue University graduate.
The world's first total heart transplant on a human was performed by Dr. Denton A. Cooley in Houston, Texas.
At the end of 1969 the longest running shows on Broadway were Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof, Man of La Mancha, and Mame.
General of the Army, Dwight David Eisenhower, 34th President of
the United States, died March 28, 1969, at the age of 78.
Other deaths in 1969 included Senator Everett McKinley Dirksen 73, Irene Castle 75, Judy Garland 43, and Sonja Heine 57.
