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The Oswego Rotary Club #4855 in Rotary International District 7150, was founded March 29, 1927. It, along with the Oswego Sunrise Rotary Club, and the Oswego Rotaract Club serves the Oswego, New York area.
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What’s new on our web site?
New service assignments for April — June, 2008
Invitation to visiting Rotarians
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Rotary started with Paul Harris, who, on April 19, 2008, would have celebrated his 140th birthday. He was born on April 19, 1868. He is well-known in Rotary, but what most Rotarians may not know is that Paul Harris made his main contributions to Rotary as a young man. He was only 37 years old when Rotary was founded. He was only 44 when his two year term as President of the International Association of Rotary Clubs ended in 1912 (later in 1922 renamed Rotary International).
After 1912, Paul Harris had no formal position in Rotary. He was the founder of Rotary and continued to influence and inspire Rotary for the rest of his life, until he passed away in 1947.
It is my opinion that Paul Harris’ vision has created the spirit in Rotary as we know it today. Here are some examples of Paul Harris’ wisdom:
- A well ordered mind is a possession more valuable than unlimited riches.
- It is just as easy to acquire the habit of speaking kindly as it is to acquire the habit of speaking unkindly.
- Perhaps dreaming is not so bad if one dreams good dreams and makes them come true.
- Rotary brings out and develops the best there is in men.
- The Rotary of today is different from the Rotary of yesterday and the Rotary of tomorrow cannot, must not, be the same as the Rotary of today. Rotary will continue to evolve.
- The spirit of tolerance which has made it possible for Rotary to form a worldwide fellowship of business and professional men will make all things possible.
- Rotary allows ordinary people to do extra ordinary things.
- War is always a ghastly blunder; even the winners lose.
During the founding of the United Nations in 1945, forty-nine Rotarians helped to draft the United Nations Charter in San Francisco and many of the international delegates from around the world were Rotarians.
At the beginning of the organizational conference of the United Nations in San Francisco, the United States delegation invited Rotary International to appoint consultants. Twelve prominent Rotarians served in this capacity with resulting influence on the humane aspects of the Charter. Rotarians at San Francisco helped re-write the preamble (We the peoples rather than we the states). The U.S. government had called upon Rotary to become involved in the founding process during 1945. The Secretary of State Edward R. Stettinius, Jr., wrote:
The invitation to Rotary International to participate in the United Nations Conference as consultant to the United States delegation was not merely a gesture of good will and respect toward a great organization. It was a simple recognition of the practical part Rotary's members have played and will continue to play in the development of understanding among nations. The representatives of Rotary were needed at San Francisco and, as you well know, they made a considerable contribution to the Charter itself, and particularly to the framing of provisions for the Economic and Social Council.
Upon the founding of the United Nations, Rotary became one of the original 42 Non Governmental Organizations that were invited to participate. Rotary still maintains this position.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Matts Ingemanson
Chairman 2004-2006, Rotary Global History Fellowship
District Secretary 2005-2006, Rotary District 7230
District Chairman, Public Image Committee 2005-2006, Rotary District 7230
District Chairman 2002-2004, Group Study Exchange, Rotary District 7230
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