Rotary International

Rotary District 6450

KOGS Archive

Select newsletter below: Rotary Club Speakers Bureau January 19, 2006 January 12, 2006 January 5, 2006 December 29, 2005 December 22, 2005 December 8, 2005 December 1, 2005 November 17, 2005 November 3, 2005 October 27, 2005 October 20, 2005 October 13, 2005 September 22, 2005 September 15, 2005 September 6, 2005 September 1, 2005 August 25, 2005 August 18, 2005 August 11, 2005 August 4, 2005 July 28, 2005 July 21, 2005 July 14, 2005 July 7, 2005 June 23, 2005 June 16, 2005 June 9, 2005 June 2, 2005 April 28, 2005 April 21, 2005 March 17, 2005 February 24, 2005 February 17, 2005 December 9, 2004 October 28, 2004 October 14, 2004 October 7, 2004 September 30, 2004 September 23, 2004 September 16, 2004 September 9, 2004 August 26, 2004 August 5, 2004 July 22, 2004 July 15, 2004 July 8, 2004 July 1, 2004 May 20, 2004 May 13, 2004 May 6, 2004 April 29, 2004 April 22, 2004 April 15, 2004 April 8, 2004 April 2, 2004 March 25, 2004 March 18, 2004 March 11, 2004 March 4, 2004 February 26, 2004 February 19, 2004 February 12, 2004 February 5, 2004 January 29, 2004 January 22, 2004 January 15, 2004 December 18, 2003 December 11, 2003 November 13, 2003 November 6, 2003 October 30, 2003 October 23, 2003 October 16, 2003 October 9,2003 October 2, 2003 September 11, 2003 August 21, 2003 August 14, 2003 July 31, 2003 July 24, 2003 July 10, 2003 June 26, 2003 June 5, 2003 May 29, 2003

The History of Kankakee Rotary

On a cool Friday evening, June 25, 1915, a small group of 25 men met in the old Y.M.C.A. building, at the corner of Harrison and Court, for the purpose of organizing a Rotary Club. Clay Buntain, Selected as the club’s first President, had visited the Rotary Club of Joliet, and was so impressed by the genuine fellowship, that he wanted Rotary to be started in Kankakee.

A petition for a Charter from the Association of Rotary Clubs (now Rotary International) was submitted and approved on July 1, 1915. Kankakee became the 147th club in the Association. The letter from the Association qualified its approval of Kankakee by saying, “Usually larger communities are accepted into the association, but the enthusiasm and sincerity of the men in Kankakee assure the success of a club in Kankakee.”

Club meetings were held every 2 weeks for the first few years, in various locations. When the new Kankakee Hotel opened its doors in 1926, the Kankakee Club adopted it as a regular meeting place.

The Rotary Club of Kankakee has been active for more than eighty years in Rotary International, and has furnished four District Governors:

John Mayhew 1935-36
I.W. Ike Parrish 1955-56
Henry J. Shroder 1962-63
Ed Kershaw 1978-79

Ike Parrish also served, for two years, on the Board of Directors for Rotary International, 1977-79.

Early membership records include the name of Frank Waterman, founder of Waterman Pen Company. Mr. Waterman grew up in rural Bourbonnais, attended Altorf School, and eventually moved to New York. The city of Kankakee invited Mr. Waterman to a celebration commemorating the new Waterman Park, (formerly Electric Park, now Beckman Park), expecting a significant donation to support the park. Instead of a donation, Mr. Waterman, who was a member of Rotary, designed Waterman pens with the Rotary logo and gave them to city and Rotary officials.

Kankakee Rotary has had a distinguished history in community service. The annual Christmas party for boys was a tradition that ended prior to World War II. Hundreds of Kankakee children received eyeglasses from Dr. Judd, medical nipples from Jaffe Drugs, and shoes from Jerry Price all through the generosity of Kankakee Rotarians. The tradition of community service has continued with the Meals on Wheels program, serving more than 180 persons daily.

Kankakee Rotary was the city’s first service club and continues to be in the forefront of community, international, vocational, and youth services in our community.