Courtesy of Ray Leisy, Club Historian
The 1983-84 Wooster Rotary Year began with the term of a new Wooster Rotary President, Paul E. Kerr, Pastor of Central Christian Church. President Paul announced that Wooster Rotary would be sending four Wooster Exchange Students abroad this year: Joy Colburn to Australia, Jackaye Raff to Finland, Susan Dix and Amy Holtman, both to Columbia. Wooster was set to host three Exchange Students this year from Sweden, Chile and Thailand.
Outgoing President Gerhard Soesmann talked about returning to his hometown of Goettingham, Germany, which was celebrating over 1,000 years of history. President Gerhard also outlined the Wooster Rotary financial support during his term for the following projects and organizations: Spangler Outdoor Education Park, People to People, Every Woman’s House, the Wayne County Agricultural Museum, the United Way, Great Decisions, the Wayne County Public Library, Wooster Community Center, Goodwill, ACDC, Meals on Wheels, Committee for Crippled Children and Adults, Wooster Shade Tree Commission, Wayne County Alcohol Services and Scholarships.
Outgoing President Gerhard Soesmann talked about returning to his hometown of Goettingham, Germany, which was celebrating over 1,000 years of history. President Gerhard also outlined the Wooster Rotary financial support during his term for the following projects and organizations: Spangler Outdoor Education Park, People to People, Every Woman’s House, the Wayne County Agricultural Museum, the United Way, Great Decisions, the Wayne County Public Library, Wooster Community Center, Goodwill, ACDC, Meals on Wheels, Committee for Crippled Children and Adults, Wooster Shade Tree Commission, Wayne County Alcohol Services and Scholarships.
Rotary Gallery Auction Chair Jim Horn reported that the 1984 auction gross from sales was $109,000, food sales was $3,600 and raffle sales had not yet been completed. Jim Horn estimated that the 8th annual auction will clear about $19,000, 29% more than last year's record. Co-Chair Tony Biggio passed out some special awards, to become known as “The Tonys,” to special Rotarians who went “above and beyond.” Many of the recipients would have preferred to have been unrecognized. It was announced that the Webb brothers, Doug and Dennis, would be Co-Chairs next year.
Wooster Rotary President Paul Kerr passed the gavel early to President Mike Steiner on May 21st for the 1984-85 Year because he was moving to Edmond, Oklahoma. There he will become the Director of Development, responsible for fund raising in Oklahoma and Arkansas for the Central Christian Church National Benevolent Association. President Paul closed the meeting with this comment: “It has been challenging and fun. This is a great Club. It makes a big impact on this community because of the service of individual members and by the Club collectively.” He also mentioned an issue that had been debated by the Wooster Club over the past few years at the request of the Rotary District. The District had suggested that Wooster Rotary was becoming too large and should consider forming a second club, morning or evening, so as to share Rotary with more men (sic.). Wooster Rotary membership stood at 227 at that time.