About Us - Our History!

Club History

In the spring of 1919 a group of East Moline’s leading citizens were sitting in commercial club rooms at 824-1/2 Fifteenth Avenue discussing things that could and should be done for the advancement of the community. A.B. Johnson, an East Moline attorney, expressed the opinion that a Rotary Club should be formed. His statement found ready response from others present. They included Carl E. Mitchell, Edward Reavy and J.F. Ryan. Ryan was then head of the State Bank (now known as Metrobank).

A committee was formed to explore the possibility of forming a Rotary Club in East Moline. John W. Casto served as chairman. Other members included Harry J. Best and J.L. Greer, real estate dealers, G.L. Rowe, proprietor of a hardware store, and H.J. Banta, secretary of the East Moline YMCA. Finding enthusiasm for the idea, the committee met on May 20th, 1919 to plan for organization. It was decided to ask the Rotary Club of Rock Island for guidance.

Rock Island Lends a Hand

The East Moline committee was invited to a Rock Island Rotary Club meeting to experience the club’s operation. The date was set for June 3rd, but inclement weather limited East Moline’s attendance to seven people.

An important step was taken at this meeting, however, when temporary officers were named. Mr. Casto was chosen as chairman and Mr. Rowe as secretary. These gentlemen contacted Rotary International for charter information. James O. Craig, governor of the 12th district of Rotary International visited East Moline. He brought with him the charter application forms.

First Meeting in YMCA Building

Upon Mr. Craig’s departure, the committee seriously went to work. By August 26th, its task was complete. On that day members held the first meeting of the club in the YMCA building (now the Public School Administration building).

On September 10th, the club began functioning officially. The group met in the High School cafeteria and chose its officers: John W. Casto, president, Carl E. Mitchell, vice president, H.J. Banta, secretary and Jean A. Pope, sergeant-at-arms. The Board of Directors consisted of: Edward M. Heider, Delos Metcalf, W. I. Taze, Paul Andre and H.J. Best. The club began with a total of twenty-two members, listed earlier in these pages.

Visitors at this first official session included E.C. Fisher of Rock Island, representing Rotary International, Wilson P. Hunt, president of the Moline Club, Walter Rosenfield, president of the Rock Island Club, and Arnold Torsell, the East Moline city editor for the Moline Daily Dispatch.

Charter Celebration

Area Rotary Clubs were thrilled at the birth of this lusty Rotary baby in East Moline. A charter meeting was arranged for October 19th. Over 400 Rotarians visited our city to celebrate. A parade passed through the business district, accompanied by floats depicting various aspects of Rotary.

A luncheon was held at the YMCA with the Altar Society of St. Anne’s Church serving. That night, East Moline Rotarians and visitors gathered in the high school auditorium for a program of speeches and songs and the Club officially received its charter, becoming the 7th club to join District 6420.

Over the Years

The strength of the Club varied with the condition of the country. It reached a low of about 20 members in the depths of the depression, coming back strong later. The war, taking many prospects into service, restrained Club membership. In later years, with East Moline and Silvis both thriving, membership continually grew to an average of 130 members.

In the early 1920s, the Club had a great softball team, defeating all other Rotary Clubs until there was no one left to play. Fred ‘Rowdy’ Railsback was pitcher and Jean Pope was catcher. About 1924, the Club erected a cabin at Camp Mansur, which was then being developed as a Boy Scout center.

In the early 1940s, Club meetings were held at Short Hills Country Club. But, World War II brought many changes. Food was rationed and government food stamps were needed to purchase many staple groceries. Short Hills was limited to serving their own members. As a result, Rotary needed to find a new meeting place. Harold Sohrbeck, Club president in 1944, was a member of First Methodist Church. The women of the church served meals for church groups and for money making projects. Harold appealed to them to serve Rotary on a weekly basis. That arrangement continues today. The church has since changed its name to Christ United Methodist Church, but the women continue to serve Rotary in a demonstration of ‘Service Above Self’. In 1985, many of the original servers were honored at a Rotary Ann night held at Short Hills.

Once an all-male organization, Rotary International voted to allow women into the clubs in the late 1980s. In 1989 the first women were inducted into the East Moline Rotary Club. They were Bonnie Bloomberg, Donna Crimmins and Nola Lueth. In the 2000-2001 Rotary year, Nola will serve as the first female president of our Club.

Club Highlights

On May 11, 1955, the East Moline Rotary Club hosted an inter-city meeting at the Rock Island Arsenal to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Rotary International. Robert Taylor, President of Rotary International was the main speaker. Also in attendance was past president Angus Mitchell of Australia and Rotarians from all around western Illinois and eastern Iowa. President Taylor was presented with a miniature plow by Deere & Company’s Bruce Laurie. The gift was much appreciated.

In 1968, Alvar Berghult of our Club was appointed captain of the first Group Study Exchange Team of District 6420. The team went to District 147 in Denmark, visiting ten cities on their ‘mission for peace’. A second Group Study Exchange Team went to Japan in 1975. Barney Gerke served as captain. The team visited many Rotary Clubs and brought back many banners and mementos.

The Club has sponsored two candidates for Rotary Foundation Study Abroad Scholarships. In 1983 Paul Bagatelas went to the Netherlands and Judy Paskvan went to Sweden in 1986.

On October 20, 1969, the Club celebrated its 50th Anniversary with a gala at Short Hills Country Club. The evening was replete with a few short speeches and a little nonsense. Richard B. Ogilvie, governor of the State of Illinois, was the main speaker.

Service to the Community

The East Moline Rotary Club and its members have always concerned themselves with charitable efforts of all kinds. Dr. Harold Perlmutter of our Club was instrumental in establishing what is now known as the Academic Achievement Awards. The East Moline Rotary Club began this high school scholarship program which was later taken over by the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce.

Over the years we have sponsored many youth programs such as East Moline Youth Baseball, Jr. Panther Football and Jr. Panther Basketball. We have been strong supporters of United Township High School. We have sponsored the shuttle bus between South Campus and Soule Bowl and the Thanksgiving basketball tournaments. In 1984 Club member Willard Smith met with a fatal accident. A memorial fund was established in his name with proceeds contributed to the UTHS Hall of Fame Project. In 1998, the Club began a scholarship program Ð STRIVE Ð to motivate students in the lower third of the UTHS senior class. Two students received one-year scholarships to Black Hawk College Ð one paid for by the Club, one by the Black Hawk College Foundation. The STRIVE program was a huge success, due in large part to co-chairs Larry Johnson and Ron Vermost.

In 1999, the Club received a $20,000 Children’s Opportunities Grant from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International to help the children of Gilda’s Club, a cancer support community.

Over the years our members have worked festivals, and held flea markets, we have entered floats in the 4th of July parade and sponsored a chalk art competition in conjunction with the Quad Cities Marathon. One of the greatest compliments our Club was given was at one of these events. It was said that whenever there was a need or a worthwhile project, you will find Rotarians doing their part.

Service to Rotary

The objective of the Rotary Foundation is ‘world understanding and peace through international charitable and educational programs’. East Moline Rotary has done their part in financing the Rotary Foundation. Each member who contributes $1,000 is designated a Paul Harris Fellow in honor of our founder. There have been 91 Paul Harris Fellows in the East Moline Rotary Club, the first of which was Lee Dawson.

In 2005, the members of the Rotary Club of East Moline voted to approve a proposed name change to the Rotary Club of East Moline/Silvis. The Rotary International Board of Directors agreed to the requested change which became official in July of 2005.