The
following week, it was announced that Rotary Park had been sold after prolonged legal problems had held up the sale. The price received was $25,000. In order to comply with the original grant of the land to Rotary by
Edgar Goldsberry in 1921, a charitable trust was established with the provision that the earnings be used for camping scholarships (Goldsberry was Lafayette Rotary President at the time). Charles Horner and James
Hoggatt would be the Trustees. The Rotary Directors approved the investment of the $25,000 in a Certificate of Deposit. Pres. Putnam recognized Ev Wright, Jim Williams and Curt Hostetter for having over 22
years each of perfect attendance at Lafayette Rotary.
The chairmen of various Rotary committees initiated a series of short talks. George McNelly started this series off with an explanation of the work of
the budget committee. JOE WALING was next with a report on how the Classification and Membership committee operates.
Meal price at the Morris Bryant Inn was increased from $3.00 to $3.25.
District Governor Robert Jones made his official visit to the club and urged all Rotarians to help build Rotary with Attendance, Membership Development, Youth Service, and World Fellowship. "The Rotary pin signifies an
important man in the community. Be a part of the team."
On Dec. 6, 1977, deep snow drifts and severe cold almost closed down both Rotary and the Morris Bryant Inn but 64 Rotarians braved the weather and
made it to good food but handicapped service at the Inn. Twenty Purduettes, their director, W. E. Allen, two Glee Clubbers and Bill Luhman also made it and delighted the small audience with an outstanding and
heart-warming program.
Glenn Sullivan ran the Rotary booth at the Home Hospital Fair in an excellent way and Joe Drozda chaired the annual Rotary Stag at the Conservation Club. James Emerson and his
committee did a top-notch job with the International Student Reception at St. Thomas Aquinas. There were nearly a hundred present at the Rotary Valentine dinner-dance at Howard Johnson's and the usual good turnout from
all over the district for the annual Intercity-Rotary Ladies night with the Varsity Glee Club furnishing an outstanding program.
The death of J. Holmes Martin on November 19, 1977 was a great loss to all
who knew him. J. Holmes had been a dedicated Rotarian since 1940 and was Club President 1959-1960. The club suffered another big loss on March 26, 1978 when George Davis died. George was a loyal Rotarian in every
respect. He was President of Lafayette Rotary in 1947-48 and was District Governor in 1953-54. He had been a Rotarian for 56 years, the last 40 in Lafayette Rotary. Widely known for his readings of the poems of James
Whitcomb Riley, the club listened to the playing of one of his Riley recordings as they honored his memory.
At the Scholarship-Citizenship Awards dinner, Dean Stockton of the School of Veterinary Science,
challenged the youth being honored to "Accept and seek leadership; develop and maintain a sense of humor, be optimistic, involved and serious. A few things done well will be better than many things done poorly."
There were many noteworthy programs and speakers but space permits mentioning only a few. There was August Vavrus, Prof. of Slavic and Linguistics at Purdue, who gave a most interesting talk on "C.B. Language." He said
there were 20 million C.B.'s in use and with many users the vocabulary and speech pattern was a thing apart and of its own style.
Pres. Arthur Hansen of Purdue presented a word-picture report on the research program
there.
Don Paarlberg, Purdue Economist, talked on "Farmers in a Changing World." He said agriculture was losing its uniqueness. The Experiment station and Extension Service, plus machinery and technology
have made for larger farms, reduced the number of farm workers and made farming a business rather than just a way of life.
Alvin C. Ruxer, Jasper, Indiana, Industrialist businessman, Banker, Saddle Horse
Farm owner and President of 18 various corporations urged Rotarians to Think about Profit in whatever they do. "I am always thinking about Profit. It makes me think differently and work a little harder. Cater to your
customers. They deserve your best service."
Just before Christmas, the Rev. Ken Carmichael, Central Presbyterian Church, told of his visits to Bethlehem and then presented High School students from Sweden,
Finland, Denmark, and Switzerland who told how they observed Christmas in their homelands. The following week there was an all-Rotary talent Christmas program. Those taking part were: Bob Lett, at the organ, Rex Kepler
at the piano; Bob Griffiths, piano solo and vocal number, a quartette—Rudy Mahara, John Osmun, Sam Keller, and Jack Young; a duet of Marv and Dick Smith; Rotaryanns Marly Hayt, Barbara Kampen, Charlotte Stewart, Mary
Smith, Jean Irvine and Carolyn Risk. George Davis read Riley's Bear Story and Mauri Williamson played Santa. Al Stewart directed the whole affair and led the club in carol singing.
In April, five members
of the Group Exchange team from India presented a most interesting program about their country—its religions, languages, development, technology, capital, courts, etc. Earlier, three local High School exchange students,
recently returned from a year in a foreign country, told of their experiences abroad: Barbara Leidle, New Zealand; Penny Morris, Mexico; Queta Smith, Bolivia. All adored their adopted foreign parents and hoped to return
some day. In all, Rotary had 45 contacts during the year with foreign students or exchange group members.
During the year, the Lafayette Club had 140 visiting Rotarians attend its meetings including men
from Finland, Sweden, England, and New Zealand, and all over the U.S. This is typical of most years.
In January 1978, the Lafayette area was hit by a blizzard that paralyzed the entire community. Six
inches of snow had fallen on January 9 and within a week the temperature dropped to 20 degrees below zero. On January 27, a massive arctic storm ripped over the state forcing schools, including Purdue University, to
close. Businesses closed. For three days there was scarcely any movement outside. Stranded motorists were housed in the National Guard armory, churches, and homes. The temperature did not climb above 26 degrees for 37
days. On February 3, the freeze ended with a high of 34. February 1978 was the coldest February on record since 1885 and the second coldest month in the past decade, 14.9 degrees below normal. A record breaking 60
inches of snow fell during December 1977 through February 1978.
Nationally, Bert Lance, President Carter's close friend and Director of the U.S. Office of Management, resigned in face of a barrage of criticism about
the ethics of his financial dealings while a banker in Georgia. The United States was importing 40% of its oil and Pres. Carter called for "a moral equivalent of war" on energy waste. The T.V. serial, Roots, captured
the imagination of the largest T.V. audience in history—over 36 million viewers and thousands were stimulated to look up their own ancestral heritage.
