Weekly Meetings
CURRENTLY ALL MEETINGS ARE CONDUCTED IN PERSON AS WELL AS ZOOM AS ROTARY MONITORS THE GLOBAL CORONA VIRUS.
Come join Seneca Falls Rotary for lunch:
Every Tuesday at noon from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at the
image: senecafallscountryclub.com
Seneca Falls Country Club
2790 Route 89
Seneca Falls, NY 13148
A set fee $14 Lunch includes tax and service gratuity with a buffet-style served presentation.
If you are interested in joining Seneca Falls Rotary or would like more information, please contact via email: senecafallsrotary@outlook.com
History of Seneca Falls Rotary
The Seneca Falls Rotary Club was formed on May 1, 1922. Weeks later the charter was presented on June 29, when 300 Rotarians from various parts of New York State filled the old pavilion at what is now Cayuga Lake State Park. To honor the newly formed Seneca Falls Rotary Club and its 28 Charter Members, then-District Governor Hart Seeley of Elmira along with sponsoring Auburn Rotary Club presented the Charter from Rotary International. The Auburn club sent 100 of its members together with the Salem Town Commandry Band, to witness a successful start to the local club. The first president of the Seneca Falls Rotary Club Caleb Smith was presented with a rosewood gavel by Walter Tower of Penn Yan.
How can Rotarians give?
Throughout the years, Seneca Falls Rotarians learned that serving a large organization such as Rotary International has its obligations as well as its benefits. One of the most successful programs ever instituted by Rotary International was POLIO PLUS. To wipe out polio from the face of the earth, it was originally estimated would take $120 million USD. The Seneca Falls club’s first quota was $14,000. It seemed like an impossible task, but under the leadership of John Webb, the club collected four times the goal! In 2020 Seneca Falls Rotary became a 100% Paul Harris Club!
Paul Harris Fellowship
The highest honor Rotary bestows is the Paul Harris Fellowship, named after the founder of Rotary. A Paul Harris Fellow is nominated when a club contributes $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. To date, the Seneca Falls Rotary has named far over 100 Paul Harris Fellows, who are outstanding community members as well as Rotarians.
Don Merriam was the first club member to be honored as a Paul Harris Fellow and is the only club member to serve as a Rotary 7120 District Governor. In 1990, the club had the honor, and the work, of hosting over 400 Rotarians when the District Assembly was held In Seneca Falls.
Through the efforts of Don Allen and other members, area youth have become aware of and received Rotary Foundation Scholarships (now called Ambassadorial Scholarships) to study abroad. Likewise, many club members when traveling abroad have enjoyed the fellowship of Rotary meetings and the hospitality of Rotarians in the areas visited. Meeting and hosting fellow Rotarians for lunch who are visiting the area from around the world from any Rotary club around the world is a cultural exchange unique unto itself.