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8th Convention in Atlanta Georgia |
| July 17-21, with 2,588 in attendance |
 Until
the Houston convention in 1914, Rotary had celebrated all its
conventions in August. After the convention in Buffalo, 18-21 August
1913, the dates of the Houston convention were changed to 22-26 June
1914. Subsequently, the conventions of San Francisco (1915) and
Cincinnati (1916) were celebrated in July. At that point, Rotary
established a tradition, programming the convention for a date near the
end of the Rotary year, in May or June. Although the present practice to identify the salient president of Rotary International with the convention that is celebrated at the end of his or her year of office, does not necessarily apply to the conventions celebrated during the term of office of Frank L. Mulholland, 1914-15. He was chosen by the delegates of the Houston convention, and he participated in the convention of San Francisco, 18-23 July 1915. Russell Greiner, 1913-14, and Arch Klumph, 1916-17, celebrated two conventions during their terms in office; they shared these conventions with their predecessors and successors.  Arch
Klumph,
Cleveland, OH, founder our present day
Rotary
FoundationKlumph insisted that the District Governors know the Rotary International Constitution and be acquainted with the Global History of Rotary. President's home page Essay from The Rotarian RIP Klumph writes about a strong statement about The Rotary Foundation President Klumph Bio Harris' message to the 1917 convention 1917 Atlanta - The Great Patriotic Convention The Atlanta Convention saw 267 Clubs represented and 2,654 individuals registered for the event though Paul Harris was not one of them. "We have called the attention of the organization this year to the possibility of a future endowment fund for Rotary", Arch Klumph reported to the Convention. "it seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world, in charitable, educational or other avenues of community progress; or such funds could be well used for extension work. I know of no more commendable use for the vast millions possessed by men in this country than that certain sums be endowed to Rotary for the purpose of establishing Rotary Clubs in all nations of the world". This endowment fund would, of course, rise to become the Rotary Foundation. World events would overshadow this significant step. Paul Harris sent his customary message to the Convention calling on delegates that"This is the hour for American Rotarians". Paul Harris was, like most delegates, uncertain about the future as War spread around the globe. "Rotary is one of our Nation's greatest assets. When all men are responding to our country's thrilling call, we cannot remain silent. Rotary's supreme purpose is to serve; never is service more appropriate than on the present occasion. How and where we shall serve remains for you to determine. May wisdom characterize your deliberations"! War could be a blessing in disguise as it could allow Rotary to understand itself better. Wilson's phrase of "the ideal of American citizenship" attracted Harris who said that Rotary can't exist in despotism and that War was Rotary's quarrel. "Rotary is the twentieth century's leveler of castes, destroyer of hypocrisy, the foe of artificiality, the lover of things genuine and the ally of truth and righteousness". Harris, though, ended by wishing that - "This is our first war convention, may it also be the last". Alas, it would not be. The British Clubs argued that war had actually helped in the formation of clubs as citizens graphically saw the need for service and co-operation. The International leadership again adopted a pragmatic approach to the British clubs by creating a maxim "to maintain not an intermediate organization but an organization of convenience". Klumph placed an emphasis on District Governors who were "gradually becoming the most important man in Rotary". Klumph insisted that the District Governors know the International Constitution and be acquainted with Rotary Global History. He referred them to Ches Perry's newly drafted pamphlet that answered the basic questions of when the organization was founded, when did it start and how did it start. One great character of these early conventions is one that most Rotarians will never hear of. 'Uncle' Charley Woodward of the Indianapolis Rotary Club was the uncle of Past President R F Greiner and a youthful 95 years old. This lovable and witty personage attended many of the early Conventions and put a sparkle in the proceedings. Calum Thomson |
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