ROTARY CLUB

The Rotary Club of St. Louis Park was chartered/had its first noon meeting at Culbertson’s on April 1, 1947 with 22 men. It was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Minneapolis No. 9.  Rudy Ruedlinger was elected President and C.L. Hurd Vice President. Harry D. Harper served as Secretary/Treasurer, and L.T. Bjorklund was chosen Sergeant-at-Arms. Hurd served as the second president, District Governor in 1952-53, and became known as "Mr. Rotary" for his role as "club manager" for over 30 years. At the time, a steak lunch cost 75 cents.

Rotary International was started in Chicago in 1905, the “world’s first service club.” The word Rotary referred to the early practice of meeting at rotating locations in members’ homes. In 1947 there were Rotary Clubs in 6,000 cities in 72 countries. The club was exclusively for men until 1989. Today, 1.2 million Rotarians belong to some 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries.

In the 1950s, Rotary held an annual "Career and Community Improvement Days."
 

On April 1, 1978, Barb Waryan was hired as the first paid executive secretary of the club.  She became the first woman member of the club in 1987, two years before women were officially recognized as members of Rotary International. 

On November 15, 1985 the Rotary Club of SLP Sunrise was chartered. 

In 1986, the Rotary Club of SLP gave the City a Showmobile, which cost $60,000.
 

At one time, Hurd Park had the name Rotary attached to it, but in 1990 the Rotary Club of SLP's focus changed to Northside Park, which was later renamed Rotary Northside Park, and the name Rotary was dropped from Hurd Park.  Also in 1990, the club agreed to make five payments of $3,000 for equipment for the park. 

In 1992 the Children First initiative was launched by the Rotary Club of SLP.  Members Gil Braun and Wayne Packard assisted in the development of the youth advocacy movement.

Operation Jump Start was founded by the Rotary Club of SLP in 1994.  This was a mentoring and alternative high school program operated by the Park school district. 





 

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.