Monday morning, June 13, 1949, in the first plenary session of the International Convention held in New York City, New York, the Keynote Address was given by English actress Madeleine Carroll.

Most remember that Bob Hope worked with Dorothy Lamour, especially in the series of “Road To” movies. Lamour was Hope’s favorite brunette actress, but what of the other hair colors? Lucille Ball was his favorite redhead, and Madeleine Carroll was Hope’s favorite blonde.

Madeleine Carroll was also known for her impassioned pleas to help the children of the world, and that mission grew more important when the nations of the world were plunged into World War II. One of the first women to ever address a Rotary International Convention, her keynote was given less than four years after the end of the War, and 38 years before the U. S. Supreme Court decision that allowed women to join Rotary. A copy of her address, appearing below, was taken from the 1949 Convention Proceedings.

Doug Rudman

Correcting a 53 Year-Old Error

On page 22 of the August 1949 issue of The Rotarian are two pictures and a caption. The issue is the 1949 Convention issue, describing the events that took place in New York City in June of 1949. The caption reads, “While Rotary throngs pack Madison Square Garden, a giant cash register totals Convention registration . . . but to Helene of Ohio it’s just a perch.”

In this close-up, ‘Helene’ is climbing on the giant cash register with a sign over it that says "Latest Registration Figures". The register has the number 15,971 in the total area. However, our Themes and Conventions page gives the registration as 15,961, ten registrants less than the picture in The Rotarian. You can view it here: www.rotarypresidents.org/themes. 

In the 2002-2003 Official Directory, it shows the registration of the International Convention at 15,961, also ten less than The Rotarian. So, we have a discrepancy in the registrants of a 53 year-old convention. Did Rotary miscount? Were ten Rotarians misplaced? Is there any way to find out which number is correct?

We contacted the Rotary Club of New York, the host club, and asked them to check their archives and storage facilities. No missing Rotarians. Well, maybe someone hauled them back to Rotary International in Evanston, Illinois.

The question was put to Cyndi Beck, of the Rotary International Archives. She wrote to dispel  the apparent conflict:

 “The Official Directory is correct, as is the ‘1949 Paid Registrants by Countries and Geographical Regions.’ This is always the final reported figure, as presented to RI by the Convention Committee for that year. In 1949 it was 15,961. In addition, there were 723 junior non-paying guests, under 16 years of age. The photograph in The Rotarian was incorrect.”

So, Rotary didn’t lose ten members. The simple explanation, the only explanation, must be, “Helene can’t count!”

Doug Rudman