The 1929
Convention in Dallas was held between May 27th and 31st. 9,526
registered to attend representing 2,361 Clubs.
Paul Harris
message took up a sporting theme -entitled - The Big Game is
On. Paul asked Rotarians - What will your batting average be? And Have
you learned the rules of the game?
"Rotarians are playing a game", the President Emeritus wrote, "bigger
than baseball, cricket or golf, a game that can be played until the
mortal curtains fall, the game of life; it requires all our individual
and collective spirit of fair play, courage and the will to win".
Harris' conclusion was this: - To play the game you need to know the
rules and the result depends on how well you know the rules.
There was a discussion of resolution 7 "to discontinue the use of motto
or slogan 'He profits most who serves best'" as proposed by RIBI-
The British had never grown fond of Sheldon's words, fearing that the
reference to 'profit' implied Rotarians had a motive of self-interest.
The Board of Directors rejected this proposal to great applause. Much of
the discussion concentrated on the translation of the phrase. It was the
word 'profit' that was under question by the British but many
foreign Club members pointed out that 'profit' often translated into
their language as 'benefit'. There was much 'frank' discussion before
Rotarian Chadwick of London dared to speak in favor. Chadwick argued
that as there was some confusion with the translation and definition -
"Let's kill this idea that we are making profit, that we are making
anything out of what we give". The resolution fell. |
President
Sutton of Tapico, Mexico took up the cause of the Foundation: "What can
the Rotary Foundation do? Many men ask 'what are we going to do with
it?' A thousand useful things, I answer, but to begin with, we might
well promote this magnificent idea of understanding and friendship among
the youth of every country."
Ches Perry announced in his report that "The Rotary Foundation has
been organized and is well under way".
The trustees of the foundation led by Arch Klumph had received
several cash donations from the member clubs. The new Board was
appointed after the Convention though Minneapolis gave the
Constitutional enactment for the Rotary Foundation.
Its first meeting was held in Chicago where Klumph told of the serious
necessity for an Endowment Fund - its purposes and administration. The
first task of the trustees was to begin a campaign of information and
education - "a rare privilege in which every single Rotarian throughout
the world would without doubt, when properly apprised of all the facts,
seek the opportunity of participating".
The trustees expected both cash and insurance policies and set a target
of some $20,000.
Cal
Thomson |
I. B.
Sutton,