Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-02-25

came so large as to make the plan
impractical. But this custom. altho
OF short duration, was resnonsihlo
for one of the features that is OH
served today in many Rotary clubs
This is the business talks" that ara
often given by members relative 10
successful methods that have been
adopted in their businesses and how
the Rotary idea of service has been
applied to their work.
How Unique Plan OF NIembershin
Originated
AS other members were admitted
to the new club. the principle was
still adhered to of having only one
representative from each business or
profession. This would be a UNIQUE
plan and would distinguish the club
from other organizations. Then also
such plan would serve to sustain
interest in the club, promote attend
ance, and make member place a
high valuation upon his membership.
Time has proved it to be a plan
adaptable to the smaller cities as well
as to the larger ones.
Later years proved that there were
many other advantages to such a
plan. A membership made up of one
representative from each business or
profession is truly representative of
the community. Such a body of men
becomes an ideal forum for the dis
cussion of public questions and the
consideration of matters of concern
both to the public and to the trades
and the professions. United action
by the club is much easier than with
a large and cumbersome membership
of several hundred or several thous-
and. 1t is impossible for any one
profession or allied professions to be-
1 come numerically strong enough tc
dominate the policy of the club
The business man is benefited fol
such association tends to lift him out
of the rut of his own business routine
giving him broader and more
sympathetic understanding of Other
businesses and professions.
] But most important of all, it has
increased the efficiency of the clul
itself by giving the officials a lever
for the removal of any dead timber
from the membership. The club cal
insist upon regular attendance ant
active participation or the surrende
of membership to someone else il
the same line of business. That thi
l 10 te, ,.;n o1, ss. ,f tI,.
reasons why membership in Rotar.
is considered at so high a premium.
Fifteen Years Has Seen Marvellous
i Growth
The new club started out by hold
ing a luncheon once each week an,
an evening meeting every month. Il
a short time there were nearly hal
a hundred members and a consider
able number of others who had be
come interested and had asked to be
come members. Men in other cite
! had heard of this new club called
} Rotary and had written to the Chi
oago club asking If they couldn'
: organize in their cities. 1t was de
, cided. though, that it would be bes
7 to wait until time had proven the eS
lperiment successful before giving en-
cOuragement to the organization @
, clubs in other cities. The Chicag
1 club continued to increase in member
I ship. In 190S-three years after tn
, first meeting-the second Rotary clu
T was organized in San francisco
Other clubs followed on the Pacifi
? Coast and then the movement sprea
to the East and then to the Sout
until sixteen clubs had been organ
lied by the end of 1910. These club
, were all the result of seed more Q
/, less accidentally sown by member
who were enthused by the Rotar
idea-and who gave of their time an
money without thought of persona
gain.
3 1t was in 1910 that the first cor
4 vention was held and the Nation;
r Association" formed. This first cor
$ vention was held in Chicago, an
!. general officers elected, and a col
t stitution adopted. Paul p. Harris WI
G honored by election to the first pre-
y idency of the newly created associi
g ton, and Chesley R. Perry, who WI
r secretary Of the Chicago club ar
: who, with Paul Harris, was respons