Our History
By Robert Laux
Reprinted from the Club's 50th Charter Anniversary Program
Rotary Clubs are formed when a group of like-minded citizens unite in “common values” with a desire to address their community needs. All members of Rotary International pledge to live and work by the “Rotary Four Way Test of the Things We Think, Say or Do:”
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build good will and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
In September of 1974, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Rumford, 21 local business professionals, formed The Bethel Rotary Club. Our first President was Romeo Baker while John Head and Roland Glines were Vice-Presidents. Other officers rounding out the charter included Basil Kinney as Secretary and Ray Moran as Treasurer. Members in Rotary were selected by profession so as not to have too many lawyers, bankers or accountants but rather representing the diversity each community entails. Our Club originally met for lunch at The Bethel Inn.
Members were required to attend weekly and encouraged to attend a neighboring community club to express their weekly commitment to the mission of Rotary. Meetings began with a Rotary song and a prayer after lunch was served. Attendance at Rotary meetings as well as participation in community service projects provided ways to build positive relationships, community connections and opportunities.
Over the past 50 years, the Bethel Rotary Club has undergone a number of significant changes while managing to build an active and vibrant membership of 50 men and women. One of the most significant changes involved in Rotary International was opening membership to woman in 1988. Because Rotary is an international organization, it took time and cultural influence to accommodate this most substantial and meaningful organizational change. Rotary has vastly improved and broadened its scope and direction as a result. Bethel’s first female member was Robin Zinchuk who joined in 1988 and has been an active member, currently serving as Chair of the Public Image Committee. Our club has sustained several long-time community members including Rick Whitney, Dave Murphy, Bruce Powell, Steve Wight, Robin Zinchuk, Kevin Finley, Bob Laux, and Rene McGrew all with at least 30 years of active involvement!
The positive impact of any local Rotary Club is defined by the activities and events incorporated in what that club does for its community. Put another way, the question is
“What would life be like in Bethel, Maine if there was not a Rotary Club?”
- Bethel’s graduating students would not have received over 200 Rotary scholarships to further their education.
- Over 100 community organizations (representing schools, churches, food pantries, clothing drives, 4H Clubs, student golf teams, children’s summer programs, and many more) would not have received Rotary grants to further their mission.
- Thousands of families would not have received holiday meal food baskets supplied by Rotary.
- Thousands of children would not have received wonderful Christmas gifts through Rotary’s Christmas for Children effort.
- Hundreds of seniors would not have been able to celebrate the holidays each year with a ham dinner, with all the fixings provided by Rotary.
- Hundreds of children would not be as healthy if not for Rotary’s annual 5K race which provides funds for other after-school and scholarship programs.
Rotary supports its many purposes and causes through local fundraising events which have included our annual week-long yard sale, ringing the bell at the local grocery store in the dead of winter, along with numerous other local events that support our local causes.
But, Rotary is also an international organization in more than 200 countries with more than 1.2 million members impacting many cultures and causes. Since its founding more than 100 years ago, our Rotary Foundation, “the giving arm of Rotary” has raised more than $4 billion for life-changing, sustainable projects. Our Foundation’s priorities include basic education and literacy, community economic development, disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, peace building and conflict prevention, water sanitation and hygiene, and care for the environment.
Over our first 50 years the Rotary Club of Bethel has contributed over $88,500 toward our Rotary Foundation! At the same time individual members have contributed over
$213,500 which has greatly assisted in numerous local, District and international projects including water projects, libraries, delivery of medical supplies, solar- electrical energy projects for remote schools and critical cleft lip and palate surgeries for youth in third world countries. Club members have offered both financial support as well as voluntary work to achieve Rotary’s objectives.
The Rotary Club of Bethel has aggressively participated in both Rotary District events and administration with members serving as Assistant District Governors (Michele Varuolo Cole, Anita Remington, and Bob Laux), as well as District Governor (Bob Laux). These efforts have brought the mission of Rotary closer to our club and offered our members opportunities to learn more about Rotary and to enhance our mission.
For 50 years, the Rotary Club of Bethel has left a positive impact on our village and its citizens. We stand proudly ready to leave further impact over the next 50!