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The 34th Convention St. Louis |
| May 17-20, with 3,851 in attendance | ||||||||
 The
34th Convention was aptly described in the Convention's slogan - "Rotary
Serving in War and Peace". It lasted for only 3 days due to travel
restrictions placed on Rotarians in the USA.The Convention was upbeat. Jean Harris also seemed full of 'evangelistic fervour' according to David Shelley Nicholl in The Golden Wheel. Jean offered words of comfort to the audience and asked God to treat them with mercy Total registration for the convention numbered 3,878 of which the vast majority were from North America. European delegates found it (obviously) impossible to travel. Priorities had to be set and the Convention was known for its brisk manner. This was the 68 Hour Convention - a streamlined Convention that adapted itself to wartime conditions. Delegates, however, were treated to the usual pre-convention entertainment with events such as an evening with the St Louis Municipal Opera. Unfortunately, the rains descended on St Louis almost relentlessly.  Many reminisced with the Convention of 1923.
Some well known faces were present including Paul and Jean Harris, Arch
Klumph and Herb Taylor who addressed the delegates as a member of the
Finance Committee. New Secretary Philip Lovejoy seemed to slot
effortlessly into the void left by his predecessor Ches Perry.One great irony of the war years was that the number of clubs and members actually grew. In 1942/43, 6 new clubs were established in the USA, 13 in Canada and 14 in Mexico. Even in war torn Britain, 3 new clubs were established. The new President, Charles L Wheeler of San Francisco gave the Convention a theme (common place nowadays for the Rotary International Presidents) - "As We Make Strong Units, We Make Strong Rotary". One platform speaker said it all. W W Grant of the Rotary Club of Denver said: 'Looking back on it from today, which was sounder and which was more practical  — the League of Nations or
Harding's return to "normalcy'? We tried to go backwards. We couldn't.
The League of Nations, properly operated, might very well have prevented
the present war. And the people wanted it!"One Rotarian couldn't make the Convention and sent his apologies from Australia in a telegram: "Appreciate deeply invitation to address Rotary contained in your letter just received.MacArthur As an ardent Rotarian I could ask for no higher honor. It is impossible, however, for me to do so because of my operational duties in the field and the uncertainties of the campaign. Most grateful to you all for your generous thought of me". Douglas McArthur (honorary member) Manila, The Philippines. |
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