The Salem Rotary Club was organized early in September, 1919 by a group of four or five forward-looking business and professional men who met above Gile's Wholesale Fruit Store at South High and Trade Streets. The Club grew rapidly through the fall and early winter. By February 18, 1920, Charter Night, the membership was twenty-two. From the beginning, Wednesday luncheons were held in the Hotel Marion.

"Service Above Self" motivated members in those early days as it does now. In May of the founding year, the Club went enthusiastically to work on community projects which included Boys Work in cooperation with the Police and Juvenile Court authorities; the Children's Playground Project which continued until June 1928 when the City of Salem took over; and aid in furnishing supplies and funds for the Salem hospitals. The Club assisted a Boy Scout Troop which began in 1930.

Later worthy projects were Child Welfare, in cooperation with the public schools in 1936 and involvement with the Willamette Scholarship Fund dating from 1951. Career Night, aimed in giving advice to Salem High School students was undertaken in 1952. The "founding fathers" of Salem Rotary also realized the International Service interest of Rotary by entertainment of visitors to Salem from other lands and programs at Club meetings emphasizing international understanding.

The Rotary International Scholarship Fund has been supported since 1950. American Field Service students are adopted by members' families and travel costs paid by the Club. In recent years the Club has participated in the Inter-national Youth Exchange Program hosting high school age youth from Den-mark, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Chile, and other nations. Fund- raising projects have included hobby shows, auctions, barbershop and other musical concerts, minstrel and variety shows with members performing, and suit sales. The Salem Rotary Club's Pops Concert was an annual event in Salem for many years. The Club's auctions have been a major fund raising source.

In keeping with the vision of Rotary International, the Salem Rotary Foundation was established in 1969 for the purposes of "fostering, developing, promoting, and encouraging the health, education, and general welfare of young people, principally in the City of Salem, Oregon, and its surrounding communities." Since that time, the Foundation has enabled Rotarians to collectively help local groups and individuals with such things as health care, food supplies, community development programs, literacy, and vocational training, and to assist with many beneficial services. The Foundation makes annual grants to various non-profit groups for educational activities, programs, and events as well as for the acqui-sition of equipment for these purposes.

The Fellows Program was established in 1996 to encourage and recognize sig-nificant contributors to the Salem Rotary Foundation. Fellows are presented distinctive pins to affix to their Rotary name tags.

1997-98 was the "Fun Year" for District 5100 and the Club. The focus was on fellowship and membership while carrying out the RI theme "Show Rotary Cares." Local projects benefited children both in their schools and playgrounds.

In 1998-99, with membership averaging 210, the emphasis was on fellowship and service to the local and world community. The Club funded a drinking wa-ter well/supply tank project in Honduras and sent almost $4,000 in direct aid to the earthquake victims there. Projects at schools continued, adding the element of sports participation in encouraging academic achievement.

The 2000-01 theme is "Create Awareness, Take Action." District 5100 had the honor of hosting the Rotary International Institute in Portland. Support for Salem-Keizer schools continues, and the Preserved Planet Earth Committee established an innovative community garden and educational venue along with other ongoing projects.

Compiled by Virginia Green

Bibliography:y
Contributions from the Rotary Club Number 572, Salem, Oregon, 1999