Our Club – A Brief History

The Beginning

On August 29, 1921, 23 Sedalians gathered at Hildebrandt’s European Hotel and Cafe, 116-118 E. 2nd Street, to discuss forming a Rotary Club. Rotary as an organization was then 16 years old. During the September 27th banquet at the YMCA Building located at 5th and Lamine, a formal charter application was made. William H. Powell, Jr., Assistant Cashier of Citizens National Bank, was elected President. Guy Peabody, District Agent for Royal Union Mutual Life Insurance Co., elected Secretary. There were 25 members in the charter club.

December 20, 1921, was charter night with approximately 200 persons attending a banquet at the Liberty Hotel at the NE corner of 4th and Lamine. District Governor Russ Burns served as toastmaster. The Rotary Club of St. Louis was our sponsor.

From the beginning, Rotarians have been active in serving youth, reflecting the needs of the times. In the 1920’s Rotarians visited the 8th grade students, encouraging them to stay in school. In some instances, books and clothing were provided as needed. In 1946 cash awards were presented to outstanding high school students. This has continued in more recent times with its “Students of the Month” program and the awarding of four scholarships annually.

Service Through the Years

In the 1940’s a gilt program enabled “deserving, bright-eyed farm boys” to get started in agriculture. Taking the entire person into consideration, Rotary sponsored the first Little League Baseball team in Sedalia. For a number of years Rotary has sent students to Boys and Girls State to learn first-hand how government operates. RYLA has provided a means for outstanding students to sharepen their leadership skills.

To facilitate the growing demands for its financial resources, the Project Fund was established in 1950. This enabled the club to channel its effort for fund raising as well as spending into a more effective program. Fund raisers have included such diverse projects as the State Fair Bowl (high school football championships games); sponsoring the Black Hills Passion Play; and ushering at rock concerts and auto racing at the State Fair. Current fundraisers include an annual auction (our big money raiser), and operating the Campgrounds General Store during the Missouri State Fair. We have assisted other organizations in their fund raising projects, such as ringing the bells for Salvation Army (undisputed winners since the beginning) and assisting the MS 150 bicycle marathon.

Some of the more recent projects include an annual fishing clinic for developmentally challenged adults; a “Paint Your Heart Out” project with Rotarians painting and making minor (and some not so minor!) repairs to homes of individuals unable to fund their own improvements. On an international level, the club has provided funds for water wells in India and South Africa. Since 1988 it has been involved in Polio Plus, an attempt by RI in cooperation with World Health Organization, to eradicate polio from the world. This remarkable program is right on schedule. In August 2020, Africa was declared polio free. That leaves the wild polio virus endemic to only 2 countries: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Women in Rotary

Sedalia Rotary was one of the first Rotary clubs to bring women into the membership, beginning 1987. Dr. Margaret Harlan was the first woman elected to membership, to be followed by many outstanding women members. Mary McIntosh was the first woman president in 1998, followed by Beth Montes in 1999 and Sue Wise in 2001. Their contribution to the Sedalia club has been incalculable.

Looking Forward

As we have reached 100 years of service, the Sedalia Rotary Club continues to endeavor service above self, both at the club and international levels. We are always seeking new projects and methods of service to benefit the community.