Rotary Club of Ukiah celebrates 100 years ...Middle East

Rotarians from several Rotary Clubs gathered recently to celebrate the Rotary Club of Ukiah’s 100th year of service.

The Rotary Club of Ukiah was formed on April 29, 1925. Hearing the stories of long-serving Rotarians was heartwarming and a reminder of the dedication of these men and women over the decades to service.

Every Rotarian upon being inducted into the organization should understand and live by: “The Four-Way Test: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?”

Working together for the good of others, both locally and internationally, creates deep bonds of friendship among those who serve. These bonds were felt as Rotarians Monte Hill, Pam Jepsen, Dr. Corey Stanley, and Larry Myers reflected on their years of service and the projects and people benefiting from Rotary efforts.

Formerly an all-male organization, even though women got the vote in 1914, it was not until the 1987 Supreme Court ruling that Rotary must admit women for membership that the “fair sex was admitted.”

One of the highlights of every Rotary meeting is the speaker. “For 100 years speakers have educated and informed members of local and world-wide items of interest. I was amazed at the range of national, international, state, and local speakers our club has had the pleasure of hearing,” explained Jepsen.

“In the 1920s, they heard from Carl Purdy, the Vice President of Pacific Telephone and Telegraph, the US District Attorney from the Northern California District who said, ‘boys need strict supervision by parents, there should be military training in schools, and that a manly submission to constitutional authority is a virtue.’ He also said that ‘no Boy Scout has ever been in trouble with the law.’ Our club has supported Boy Scouts since 1925.These talks were reported in detail in the newspaper so that the community at large also benefited from the speakers,”  added Jepsen.

All the evening’s Presenters spoke to “For Rotarians, our reason for being is the local and international projects we do. Rotary is based on the premise of ‘Service Above Self.’ Paul Harris created Rotary in Chicago in 1905 to encourage community connections based on friendship and service.”

Many changes have taken place in Ukiah over the last 100 years, and Ukiah Rotary has played a significant role in those positive changes.

Youth

Ukiah Rotary has supported Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Campfire Girls; in 1926, paid for an operation for a crippled child from Fort Bragg; supported foreign exchange students; purchased art supplies for “Toybrary;” sponsored youth baseball teams; helped build Anton Stadium; helped raise funds to form a high school swim team; in 1928, worked with Lions Club to create a permanent Ukiah swimming pool, and more.

Parks

Provided playground equipment, BBQ pits, benches and tables at City Park; helped develop Grace Hudson Carpenter Park, dedicated in 1978; provided a Pocket Park by the Post Office and one on Perkins Street; two Veterans’ Parks; two BBQ Pits at the Fairgrounds; in 2003, donated $25,000 for a Skate Park; in 1980, landscaped the large lawn near Ukiah High School gym; and refurbished the Rocket Ship at Todd Grove Park.

International projects

In 1928, Ukiah Rotary shipped vegetables to Shanghai Rotarians; in1977, mailed discarded school books to the Philippine Islands; in 1979, donated $1,500 to R1 Health, Hunger, Humanity Program; developed water harvesting with dams and spring water for several villages in India; in India, purchased 95 solar stoves for villagers to replace wood-burning stoves in homes; bought a school bus, ambulance and fire truck for a village in San Felipe, Mexico; adopted a village in Africa, providing a milling machine, school books and micro loans; sent 2,900 laparoscopic surgical sets to Antigua Guatemala.

Locally

Provided Citizenship Awards and Youth Community Service Awards to elementary, middle and high school students; years of Christmas parties for Trinity School students; supported athletic programs for students at Trinity School and Juvenile Hall.

In 2004, sponsored 30 children to go to Safari West (children from Trinity School, Redwood Children’s Services, Big Brothers and Sisters); donated books to school libraries, made loans to Future Farmers of America; raised funds for the high school band, provided annual scholarships to Ukiah, Potter Valley high school students as well as Mendocino College students; was one of many sponsors for Safe Rides for young people; supported Bowl for Kids Sake; sponsored two Interact Clubs.

Additionally, Ukiah Rotary participated in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) – an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts, where participants aged 14-30 develop skills as a leader while having fun and making connections, learning from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors.

Ukiah Rotary also supported people with disabilities by sponsoring trips for Special Olympic Track Meets, donating lawn mowers and donating several golf carts to residents with disabilities.

The Club also supported the creation of Ukiah Senior Center, in 2001 prepped and painted Bartlett Hall at the Senior Center; donated more than $6,000 for the Sun House; and supported Guitars for Troops, and Operation Flags.

In 2021, the Rotary Club of Ukiah installed six “Little Free Libraries” in the City of Ukiah. The new Little Free Libraries are located at Nokomis Park, McGarvey Park, Oak Manor Park, Observatory Park, Redwood Trail, and Vinewood Park.

Fundraising

In 1937, the 12th District Agriculture Fair (predecessor to Redwood Empire Fair) Rotary Concession cleared $198 for the ambulance fund. In 1970, they sponsored the first annual Golf-Tennis Tournament; are known for their “Famous” Pancake Breakfasts; held Country Western Dinner Dances, the Monster Bike Ride, and countless raffles to raise funds for various projects that benefit the area.

Greetings to the club were brought by Jim O’Grady, District Governor of Rotary International 5130 (Petaluma Valley is his home club).

Ukiah Rotary meets Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m. at Star’s Restaurant, 115 S. Orchard Ave., Ukiah. Mailing address: Ukiah Rotary, PO Box 1466, Ukiah, CA 95482.

For more information, go to: Ukiahrotary.org or call Dave Scollin at (707) 489-3903. The club’s current President is Tim Karas, Ed.D., Mendocino College President.

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