STE. GENEVIEVE – The Ste. Genevieve Rotary Club will celebrate the 50th anniversary of
the club’s organization Thursday, Oct. 26th in the Country Mart meeting room. Club president Jami Drury has invited all Rotarians and their guests to enjoy a reception and program highlighting the club’s accomplishments. Long standing Rotarians will be honored for their service.
Members of the Ste. Genevieve Rotary Club were present for the Mayoral Proclamation designating November 2, 2023 as Ste. Genevieve Rotary Club Day in Ste. Genevieve, in honor of the club’s 50th anniversary. Seated (l-r) are Jami Drury (club president), Mayor Brian Keim and Greg Lauer (club treasurer). Standing (l-r) are Rotarians Rich Rebecchi, Terry Rottler, Annete Rolfe, Jamie Ballew, Sara Menard, Andrea Stolzer, Laurie Ebeling, Joe Steiger, Jack Koetting, Jason Basler, Tim Inman, Josh Wright, Dave Bova, Leon Basler, Ron Inman, and Jim Brandt. The club has a roster of 48 members and welcomes new members.
An organizational meeting for the club was held at Cafe Genevieve on September 16, 1973. The charter was issued by Rotary International on November 2, 1973.
Mayor Brian Keim has signed a proclamation designating November 2, 2023 as “Ste. Genevieve Rotary Club Day” in the City of Ste. Genevieve. During his signing, he said Rotary is far-reaching and he, as a fellow Rotarian, is excited about what Rotary has accomplished during the past 50 years.
Charter members of the Ste. Genevieve Rotary Club were: Curtis L. Brown (Treasurer), William Tlapek, Raymond Weber, Mel Lipp, Ralph Stover, Meinrad Gremminger, Mike Bauman, Raymond Thomas, Ray Clancy (president), Robert Christy, Dr. Kent Sadler, Marvin Herman, George Wood, Tom Wolf, Ray Melcher, Ken Barley II, Lou Schilly, Bill Prince, Wayne Schweigert (Secretary), Orville Duvall (vice-president), and Ron Carlton.
Rotary’s main objective is service: in the community, in the workplace and globally. In the past 50 years the local chapter has served the community in a variety of ways. Activities have included awarding of local scholarships, providing eco-friendly benches around town, and the construction of a welcome sign on Highway 32. The local club has planted trees along Progress Parkway and provided a gazebo at Bicentennial Plaza downtown. The club has annual food drives and supports Reading Express. Partnering with Rotary International, the club works to eradicate polio worldwide and provide drinking water in underdeveloped countries.
Current club president, Jami Drury, echoed Rotary’s emphasis on service.
“I continue to be thankful to and for this club,” she said. “I have found something outside of my educational career that I have a love for and that’s service about self! I’m proud of the many projects and contributions this club has made through the years and will continue to do for the next 50 years.”
The iconic duck races that are staged during Jour de Fete began in 1999 and are the second largest fundraiser for the club behind an annual golf tournament.
The club has been recognizing students of the month from both Valle and Ste. Genevieve high schools since 1974. The first students of the month were Sue Wichern of Ste. Genevieve High School and Eileen Baechle of Valle.
The club has also heard from hundreds of community leaders, businesses and individuals on local projects, community affairs, unique professions and hobbies. One of the first speakers was Eddie Stewardbird, an instructor at the time at Jefferson Junior College in Hillsboro – his presentation was on the pros and cons of the Alaskan pipeline.
Founded in 1905 the object of Rotary is to encourages and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise. Rotary International understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship. Since 1905 Rotary has awarded billions of dollars globally to accomplish lofty goals.
In 1973, there were 743, 500 members and 15, 804 clubs in 150 countries.
Today, there are 46,000 clubs and 1.4 million members.