Gary Farral submiitted this article.
Monday, June 17, 2019, Erie Rotary club voted to turn in its charter, ending 73 years, eight months, and 23 days of service to Erie, IL, the State of Illinois, the United States of America, and other Nations around the world. The major problem since about 2005 was the lack of new members. We did our best to obtain new, younger members to carry on, but to no avail. Nationwide, this is a major problem for most clubs. Foreign clubs are growing.
As for International projects, Rotary plus the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are three countries short of eradicating smallpox. Fresh water has been supplied to countries by means of well, water converter, or pipeline.
Venerable service organizations across the U. S. are closing due to lack of fresh membership. Please consider joining a service organization to help your community.
Erie Rotary Club Contributions
1. Sewer: During its first ten years Rotary worked to provide City sewer service in Erie. The project was put into operation in 1955.
2. Erie Recreation Park: Rotary helped establish Erie Recreation Park, which became Erie Boat Club, now the Erie Campground. In 1958-1959 two tennis courts were added. Flooding ruined the courts, and the ground was turned over to the Boat Club.
3. Scouting: Since the mid-1950s Erie Rotary Club has sponsored local Boy Scouts. Annual February Pancake Days provided funds for the Cub and Boy Scouts. Pancake Day was dropped in favor of a Soup Supper; it is now Pancake Day again
4. Library: In the late 1950s, the community library, run by volunteers, was in need of help; Rotary Club came to the rescue. The Erie Board of Trustees made the old City Hall available for use. Rotarians repaired all the windows and door and painted the interior. A new floor was laid, and book shelves were built. Ice Cream Socials were held in the late summer to provide operating money for the library. These continued annually until the current Library District was formed.
5. Garbage: The Rotary Club initiated the service.
6. Foreign Connections:In 1960, Erie Rotary Club sponsored, through the Experiment in International Living, its first foreign guest, Antoinette (Reta) Weinbeck from Holland. Other summer guests followed. Later, the club was a prime supporter of and contributor to formation of the Erie chapter of American Field Service. Several foreign students spent January in Erie attending the local high school as part of the Rotary International Short-Term Exchange Program.
7. Eye Care: In the 1950s the club joined with the Lions Club, American Legion, Junior Women’s Club, and PTA to sponsor eye exams in the local schools. Rotary donated money for an eye examination machine.
8. Street sign/House numbers: Erie Rotary Club assigned house numbers and set street signs as well as sponsored them. Updates have been formed.
9. Village Maps: A committee headed by J. R. Baker, DVM, produced free Village of Erie maps. One revision was produced as part of the 1972 centennial celebration; there have been other updates.
10. Trees: Dutch Elm Disease claimed a number of trees in Erie. The Rotary Club replaced them. The club purchased saplings and sold them, at cost or less. Saplings were planted at Heritage Park on Arbor Day.
11. Heritage Park: Erie celebrated its centennial in 1972; afterwards the centennial committee held $8000. They looked for a worthy project. In 1974 the Club President spearheaded a drive to establish a park. The centennial committee and the Rotary purchased land where the park now sits. The Club agreed to pay $500 a year for three years as part of that agreement. Rotary contributed trees and flower beds plus erected donated playground equipment.
12.Boat launch: The Glenn Miller Marina was created from funds first learned about from a meeting speaker. The Club applied for the funds and contributed them to someone who could effect the building of the launch site.
13. Scholarship Grants: Since the 1960s the Club has sold sandwiches at one High School game annually, to raise money for five, $200 scholarships, one of which was the Bill Winckler Vocational Scholarship. Currently the Club gives out three $200 scholarships.
14. Avenue of Flags: An avenue of flags was created in 1988 with the assistance of the community to show the flag at the Erie Cemetery.
15. Welcome Sign: A Welcome to Erie sign was erected on Albany Road, which detailed community churches and service organizations. A small sign announcing the entry into Erie was erected at a later date on Moline Road/Old Route 2 coming in from Lyndon/Morrison.
16. Christmas Baskets: Rotarians held raffles to raise money for the purchase of food baskets for needy families, handled through the Erie Food Pantry. About 40-to-50 baskets were given out for several years. Recently Erie Rotary Club has given away turkeys at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
17. Donations: As funds became available the Club donated to Meals on Wheels, Hospice, Snowflake, and projects sponsored by or deemed worthy by Rotary International.
18. Farmer’s Night: With the efforts of Cliff Warkins, Rotarian and local farmer, Rotary sponsored a Farmers Recognition Night. Speakers are engaged and displays of available agriculture products are established. Up to120 farmers attended these evenings.
19. Veterans Memorial: A memorial recognizing 20th century veterans was created with donations from the public. Other monies were raised via the sale of memorial blocks on which are engraved the veteran’s name, service, and years of service. Flower beds were established and are tended from a memorial fund.
20. Emergency Sirens: The community funded the majority of the cost of two emergency sirens, to replace the siren that once sounded from the old Fire Station. Sirens are on the northeast and southwest corners of Erie. The Club applied for a Rotary International grant and received it for the first siren.