Cambridge Rotary Club Established

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIII, Issue 6024, 23 September 1946, Page 5

Cambridge Rotary Club Established

MEMBER OF ROTARY INTER-

NATIONAL

PRESENTATION OF CHARTER

' The progress that the Rotary movement has made of late in the Dominion and the enthusiasm of its members was exemplified on Thursday last when the charter presentation evening of the Cambridge Club was held in the "Triangle" tearooms. There were over 90 Rotarians and prospective members present and of these about 75 per,cent, were visitors. The chairman was President Stan. Morrison, of the Hamilton Club, and seated with him were Past District Governor Harold Thomas, of Auckland, President W. R. Garrard, of the Cambridge Rotary, and the Mayor of Cambridge, Mr Walter Moore. The function was an outstanding one, and as we briefly mentioned in last Friday's issue, augurs well for "the future success of the ' Cambridge Club.

After the "call to order" and the general welcome on the part of the local president, the chairman of the evening was installed. Grace before dinner was offered by Padre C. W. Chandler. The many visitors- were then individualy announced, after which the meeting was in the hands of Sergeant-at-Arms Lockett. .

The Mayor's Welcome.

In the course of a hearty welcome Mr Moore said visitors were always welcome to (.ton bridge. He hoped that visiting Rotarians would not "fail to call upon him when, they were in, or passing through this district. The Mayor said he could well appreciate the value of the movement for it a good oportunity for men to get together and meet their fellowmen. could readily discuss matters of individual, community, national and international importance and _ they could get the other man's point of view. If this principle could be more general in the world then much of the misunderstanding among nations would surely be removed. He believed that Rotary Clubs could do a lot of good in helping the different worthy appeals and objects. He felt sure that the establishment of a club in Cambridge would be an asset to the community. Mr Moore offered his hearty congratulations on the establishment of the club. He wished the members many happy and successful

years.' l~ In reply to the Mayor's welcome the chairman (President Morrison) said there were four basic objectives in the Eotary movement. They were club service and the promotion of good fellowship; vocational service; community service; and international service. The club service enabled the members to discuss amicably any subject, ■ to drink of the fountain of knowledge, to develop good fellowship and better understanding among men. Vocational service enabled the members to get among the members of their particular trade classification, discuss problems and bring about greater unity. Community service meant the good that one could, do in _ : a community and such service was a big factor in Rotary life. International service was what one could do to assist in this direction. The individual might think there was little he could do; but if thorough understanding could be achieved in a club and in a community, then that was the first step towards the goal. President Morrison went on to mention that today many Rotarians were playing prominent parts in international affairs. He concluded by thanking the Mayor for the warmth of his welcome and said the Hamilton Club had considered it a privilege to assist Cambridge. He felt certain by the repre : sentation that night that Cambridge had started out on its Rotary career on the right foot. f Past District Governor's Address. ' In a very able and thoughtful address the Past District Governor, Mr Harold Thomas, opened by : _ tracing the rapid growth of the fnbvement over a period of only 40 yeats. The reason for the remarkable growth of Rotary was a man's primary needthat of friends. The band of men who formed Rotary 41 years ago never for a moment visualised the possibilities. They formed their little club for a selfish motive—to help themselves; but it was found that their co-operation and unity brought benefits and so it was soon felt that the benefits should be made available to others. Then came the birth of the ; four main objectives of Rotary. Mr Thomas urged the Cambridge Club to aim at developing the balanced Rotarian—that is the member who took an interest in the four objects. It was true that this year, while not forgetting the other three, Rotarians everywhere were urged to concentrate on the fourth objective—that is, to assist ■ internationally. "The reason is so very obvious," continued Mr Thomas, who went on to detail the Bretton Woods Agreement. He believed there was something every club and every

individual Rotarian could do in iron-

/ ing out. the present difficult inter- \ national situation. If this were not done then the first three objectives-of Rotary would sorely remain frustrated. When it was mentioned that

there wei'e two million thousand people on the earth one might naturally feel that as an individual there was not-much that he could do about the international situation; but he (the speaker) was not prepai'ed to take it that way. It was the fine lessons of the individual that counted. He knew he could be asked for some practical suggestions and one would be a plea for each Rotarian to measure up to his individual responsibility and really endeavour to make his own mind up about the desire for peace. It was necessary for members to read much and to think straightly. If Rotarians would do this then surely they could influence others to think along sound, constructive lines. We had achieved a democratic victory and it was the people's wish for a democratic peace. Without international co-operation there could not be a secured peace, in his opinion. Mr Thomas said he was not afraid to say that he strongly supported the Bretton Woods Agreement. He believed that the corner stone of any future peace was healthy co-operation between the United States of America and Great Britain,

At the conclusion of his address the Past District Governor warmly applauded. /

I Presentation of Chapter. , It was then that the Past District Governor presented the Charter to President W. R. Garrarii and declared the Cambridge Club'/a member of Rotary International/ He heartily congratulated the club on its association and hopep it would go on from strength to 'strength. President Ga\jr>rd suitably returned thanks. Presents To Club. At this stage of the proceedings Past President Guy Bindon, of the Hamilton Club presented to the newly initiated club a unique silver-plated gong in the shape of a bell. The bell was surmounted with the Rotary wheel emblem. Mr Bindon extended hearty congratulations to the club and said that Hamilton were privileged to have been of assistance to Cambridge in its foundation. The gong was their token of goodwill. This, presentation was followed by another in the shape of a wooden gavel from the Auckland Club. It was presented by President J. Howard Lawry, who also offered the heartiest congratulations. Sincere thanks were offered by the local President.

The singing of the National Anthem brought a memorable evening to a close.

Apologies were received from Rotorua and Newmarket clubs.

In our Friday's issue we mentioned that the gong was the gift of the Auckland Club and the gavel from Hamilton Club. This statement was incorrect, the gifts being made as aforementioned.