Reading #88

Brief histories of Rotary's First 100 Clubs

Rotary Club of Reading 88

Chartered on December 1, 1913

88th Rotary Club to be Chartered

"The idea of a group of business men, in businesses not allied to each other, banding together to become better friends, to exchange business ideas, and to help their communities, was first brought to fruition by the formation of a Rotary Club in Chicago in 1905 by Paul P. Harris. The inherent need for such an organization among businessmen and its place in their communities became very apparent when similar clubs began to be organized in many other cities. The first Rotary Club organized in Pennsylvania was that of Philadelphia on November 30, 1910, Charter #19. Soon after that Pittsburgh and then Harrisburg were organized.

"Business men in Reading, particularly William W. Keck, a partner in Croll and Keck, Clothiers, Bernard R. Knisely and Otis H. Bennett had received news of this new organization from friends of theirs in Harrisburg and Scranton. After several informal get-togethers in Croll and Keck store in the summer of 1913, a meeting was called in the Mineral Spring Hotel on September 13, 1913, which was attended by 52 businessmen of Reading and vicinity. This meeting was presided over by the late Judge W. Wagner, who introduced the guests, among whom were representatives of the Harrisburg Club, particularly John S. Musser, President of the Harrisburg Club. The most important representative of Rotary at this meeting was Glenn C. Meade of Philadelphia who had been president of the National Rotary group for the year 1912-1913. His story and appeal, plus those of the Harrisburg and Scranton men, were immediately fruitful

Joseph A. Abey

President of Rotary Club of Reading - 1942-1943

District Governor of District 179 - 1948-1949

President of Rotary International - 1961-1962

No record of the club would be complete without some discussion of perhaps our most honored member, Joseph A. Abey. Of the some 21,000 clubs in Rotary International, approximately 80 can claim the honor as home club of the International President, a claim that the Reading club carries with pride.

Joe was elected to the Reading Club on 21 April 1936 and was loaned the classification of Newspaper Publisher. He served as president of the club in 1942-1943, as District Governor in 1948-1949, as Rotary International Director from Zone 5 in 1954-1956, and as President of Rotary International in 1961-1962. Along the way he chaired nearly every club committee, and actively promoted Rotary throughout the region and the world.

On June 21, 1961, Joe's birthday, the club hosted a dinner for he and his wife Eula at the Albright College Field House to which 1100 guests responded. This meeting served as the introductory event of his year as President and saw the introduction of his theme for the year, ACT -- Aim for Action, Communicate for Understanding, Test for leadership -- a theme which was to serve as the focus for his 125,000 miles of worldwide travel on behalf of Rotary for the next several years. During his travels, Joe visited Rotary clubs in 35 states and 90 foreign countries.

First 100 Clubs of PA

Rotary Club of Philadelphia 19

Rotary Club of Pittsburgh 20

Rotary Club of Harrisburg 23

Rotary Club of Reading 88

Rotary Club of New Castle 89

Rotary Club of Erie 91

Also See: Scranton #101

And Hanover #4000

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