Vocational Service and Finally Women in Rotary
1979: The club actively participated in the Gundaker Foundation of the local Rotary District. This foundation serves and is operated by more than 50 Rotary clubs in Southeastern Pennsylvania. It is one of only three such foundations in the Rotary world. The foundation assists clubs with local and international projects and provides scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students. Application materials can be found at www.Gundaker.org. The club served its annual Roast Beef Dinner event at the Masonic Temple of Chester. The public was served both in the dining hall of the Temple, and by way of take-out orders.
1982: The Rotary Club of Chester installed an inground pool for the Boys and Girls Club of Chester. The
Boys and Girls Club grew out of the Boys Club of Chester. The latter developed from an attempt by a Chester Rotary Club member to offer young boys an alternative to becoming mischievous and committing crimes.
1984: Alonzo “Cav” Cavin becomes the first African-American president of the Chester Rotary Club. Cav was an Education professor at Widener for many years and was very involved with many education, mentoring, and scholarship activities of the club. He is particularly well-known for his involvement with Project Prepare at Widener and with the annual Martin Luther King Day celebrations in Chester.
1987: The Supreme Court ruled that Rotary International must admit women for the first time in a decision that forced many “men only” organizations to become more inclusive. The result was a large influx of women into clubs worldwide. Barbara Hirsh was the first woman to be admitted to the Rotary Club of Chester under the presidency of long-term member Joe Cirilli. Hirsh was sponsored by Les Jenkins. The Chester Rotary Club hosted a Rotary Club from Bangladesh during Rotary International’s convention in Philadelphia. Also, the Chester Rotary Club held a 70th anniversary banquet.
1991: The Rotary Club of Chester sponsored the Widener University Rotaract Club. Joe Cirilli initiated the
club in 1990; and it received its charter in 1991. Kathleen McGinnis, a charter member of the Widener Rotaract Club, wrote a research paper entitled “Exploring the Struggling Role of Women and Minorities in Rotary International” for a communications class at Widener.
1992: The first edition of the Chester Rotary Club Supplement was published. The club initiated the tradition of the Delaware County Times insert to commemorate its 75th anniversary. The Club once again invested in pool facilities for the Boys and Girls Club of Chester. This was a new pool in addition to the one constructed in 1982.
1993: The Chester Rotary Club joined with Project Prepare at Widener University to create additional opportunities for students at that university. A Book Fund was established that loaned books to students. In addition, the Coulter-Eynon fund made emergency loans available to students in need. The loans were interest free. The scholarship committee, chaired by Dr. Alonzo Cavin, awarded four Widener scholarships for the 1992-93 academic year. The earlier recipient of the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial scholarship left for England to commence his economics study. As an interesting note, Bill Moyers’ career was shaped by just such a scholarship. By this time, the female membership of the club had grown to four: Diane Lord, Edith Hilton, Joan Taylor, and Mary Maguire. The club worked at Camp Sunshine, served another Roast Beef Dinner, supported the International Foundation, helped in the fight against Polio, etc.
1994: Working with youth took center stage. Activities included work with Interact at Chester High, Rotaract at Widener University, Youth Exchange with international students, and various scholarships and awards. The Boys and Girls Club and the Chester Rotary Club served an annual holiday dinner to about 800 people.
1995: The medical clinic in Nigeria, which is sponsored by the Chester Rotary Club and prominent local doctors, was nearing completion. Dr. Daniel O. Dada MD, a member of the club, was tireless in his pursuit to finish the Metro Clinic for women and children. Day-to-day operations of the clinic were supported by the revenue from a newly established farm operation, Metro Farms. The Rotary Club of Chester established its own tax-exempt foundation under section 501(c)3 of the tax code to better serve the community. Once again the club made available two scholarships to Widener students. Our Rotaractors at Widener had a “productive” year. They helped clean up City Ministries, a homeless shelter; they distributed personal care items at nursing homes; and spread holiday joy through the provision of food and gift baskets. City Team Ministries gave its “Good Samaritan Award” to Eric Stong, member of the Rotary Club of Chester. 1996: To fight underimmunization in the area, the Chester and other local Rotary Clubs joined together in support of Childhood Immunization Week in April. The Chester Club sponsored immunization efforts in various locations in the county. The members actively engaged in various service endeavors and raised funds for the financial support of local service organizations, such as Camp Sunshine, the Boys and Girls Club, the Red Cross, the Delaware Literacy Council, etc. The club was well on its way to secure a large matching grant from the Rotary International Foundation for the Metro Clinic project in Nigeria.
1997: Edith Hilton becomes the first female president of the Club. The sought after matching grant for the Metro Clinic in Nigeria was secured. Hogie Hansen, Rotary District Foundation Chair and member of the Swarthmore Club, presented a check for $15,000 to the Chester Club Foundation. The Rotaractors just finished collecting old textbooks at Widener to be sent to the University of Sarajevo in war-torn Bosnia.
1998: The Chester Rotary Club actively participated in the newly launched RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) program in District 7450 Congressman Kurt Weldon was the keynote speaker at the 80th birthday of the club gala. Dr. Alonzo “Cav” Cavin, longtime member of the club, was appointed assistant governor in Rotary district 7450.