A Look Back at the Rotary Club of South Orange
Dennis Borden, now our most senior member, shared his memories and memorabilia with the Club at a recent meeting. A primary artifact of our history was the original Rotary bell from 1926 which bears the names of the charter members of the Rotary Club of South Orange. Dennis displayed numerous newspaper articles about the Rotary Club of South Orange: "Rotary Restaurant" announces the move to Pagliacci's Ristorante at 74 First Street; "Just Clowning Around" featured a lesson in balloon art from Jack Laggan, a part-time professional clown; "S. Orange Rotary Club goes to bat for baseball-loving Dominican youths" describing our collection of sporting equipment that was sent to the Dominican Republic, thanks to the efforts of Doug Donovan, a former Peace Corps volunteer and past club president. Perhaps the most dramatic clipping referred to the time that former Village Administrator Joseph D'Arco (a Rotarian) was saved from choking on a piece of steak by two members who used the Heimlich Maneuver to save his life. Perhaps this is why we don't have steak at our meetings anymore.
On August 25 Dennis brought the South Orange Monopoly game to the meeting to show off a former fund-raiser. Right now it is a chance to see the businesses that are no longer in South Orange. Wouldn't it be nice to do a new one for 2011.
A December 1992 Bulletin featured yet another South Orange Rotary Song, written by Ralph Lieber (former So. Orange/Maplewood Board of Education Superintendent) and Nancy Chelel, to the tune of "When You're Smiling"
SOUTH ORANGE ROTARY
SOUTH ORANGE ROTARY
THE BEST IN EVERY WAY
SOUTH ORANGE ROTARY
SOUTH ORANGE ROTARY
A COMMITMENT EVEN IN PLAY
THE FOUR WAY TEST
IS OUR STAND YOU KNOW
A GLOBAL AWARENESS
IS THE WAY TO GO
SO KEEP ON GIVING
JUST KEEP ON GIVING
AND THE WHOLE WORLD WILL SMILE WITH YOU.
Notable events in that bulletin included the report that the Big Band Gala raised over $4,240, and the Irvington Club was having a joint meeting with South Orange. Oh yes, Dennis Borden was President-Elect and Charlie Turner was chair of Rotary Information.