When did Rotary Clubs first invite guest speakers on the regularly weekly meetings? How did this tradition start and who was the first recorded guest speaker in a rotary meeting? Thanks. - RGHF Member, PP Allan C. Limas RC Banilad Metro, D3860 Cebu, Philippines

Responses by Basil Lewis, England; Dick McKay, USA; and PDG Bill Sturgeon

 Basil Lewis: The question was about regular guest speakers rather than one off or occasional speakers.

In '39 pioneers,' by Dick Harrison, it says

"1908 newcomer Ches Perry, (RI Secretary 1910-1942), said the San Francisco Club #2

organized with Charles M. Schwab as the key note speaker. He noted that the Chicago Club had

never enjoyed such a high level speaker, nor sought one as a member.''

To me, this implies that the Chicago Club had speakers if not necessarily noteworthy ones, but does not indicate whether the speakers were from within the club or guests. In the early days, Chicago met in members' offices which would not really be suitable for guest speakers.  It was Rufus Chapin who first suggested a hotel would be more suitable.   RGHF senior historian and life member Basil Lewis, England 8 July 2009

I have read your comments below as to the speaker we had on our Charter Night on November 12, 1908.  You are absolutely correct in naming Charles Schwab as one of the first speakers for us. My very quick review of the materials I can reach are as follows: 

On that same charter night, M.H. deYoung, owner of the Chronicle [newspaper] gave a talk on community cooperation and the need of a get-together spirit.  John A. Britton, VP with the California Gas and Electric Company, spoke on public relations of a public service corporation.  C.M. Wooster was to have spoken on how best to induce colonization in California from Eastern States, but took ill.  Homer Wood learned that Schwab was having dinner downstairs, and he and deYoung went to Schwab and asked him to make a short talk.  This Schwab did, speaking optimistically of the future of San Francisco as a world port.  [All the above is at page 26 of William J. Mountin's History of the Rotary Club of San Francisco of 1940.]   

Also, in the same volume at page 25, Mountin mentions the Chronicle's November 12 article on the upcoming banquet that night.  As to the club meetings, the Chronicle stated:  "Meetings are to be held once or twice a month. ... The city's trade, foreign relations, public utilities and kindred subjects will be seriously discussed and experts in their individual lines of business will from time to time present their ideas."  Thus it seems obvious that from the beginning [not including Charter Night speeches] the RCSF intended to have speakers for their meetings. 

There was no meeting in December 1908 because of the Christmas holidays.  A second banquet was held on January 16th at the Hotel St. Francis.  The undated announcement for the meeting states that R.B. Hale, who recently returned from a trip to the Orient, will speak on his observations.  C.M. Wooster, who was ill for the last meeting, will speak on what has been and is being done in the general development of California.  Dr. Edwards, of the California Promotion Committee, will also make an address. [Mountin, pages 31-33]  It appears that from the very first, SF2 believed speakers to be an important part of their meetings. 

Finally, Jack, I find it hard to believe that Chicago would not have had speakers during the 44 months as the sole Rotary Club in existence.  I would be interested in what Dick has to say about this.   

I have also reviewed Mitch Postel's Seventy-Five Years in San Francisco tome, but there is nothing more to add to Mountin's comments on this subject of speakers.  As content editor for our 100th Anniversary book, copies of which we in SF2 are always happy to provide to interested Rotarians [for a fee], I know of nothing that Theresa Whitener wrote that would shed more light on the subject.