Club Beginnings / Club Traditions / Charter Members / Past Presidents / Changes / Community Support

In October of 1978, a group of business and professional men began meeting on Fridays at noon at the former Red Lion Inn in Blacksburg for the purpose of forming a Rotary Club.  These men were residents of Blacksburg and Christiansburg and the surrounding areas.  Some were members of the Rotary Club of Christiansburg-Blacksburg and some were prospective members of the proposed new club.  The meetings were held with the support and sponsorship of the Christiansburg-Blacksburg Club.

The discussion and planning for these meetings at the Red Lion Inn had begun almost a year earlier and were triggered by at least two important factors.  The size of the “Evening Club” was outgrowing the available facilities for meetings and there was a belief that a club meeting during the lunch hour would attract many good potential Rotarians for whom an evening meeting was inappropriate.

There was some disagreement, initially, in the Evening Club, but, after full discussion, the Club concluded that the most desirable decision for the community and for Rotary International would be to sponsor a new club and this was the action taken.  The late Andy Reynolds served as the liaison member from the sponsor club to the proposed Club.  Andy’s leadership, recruiting and planning were vital to the beginnings of the new Club.  The Club historian is in possession of a videotape in which the founders discuss the birth of our Club.

Under the leadership of its Charter President and his immediate successor the Club began almost at once to experience a healthy growth and to make its mark among the clubs of District 7570.

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Club Traditions

Each meeting starts with the Pledge of Allegiance, a national song (often Oh Beautiful) and a prayer prior to eating our meal and then beginning the week’s program. If you visit our Club, you will also hear voices raised in unison to welcome each and every person.  Saying “Hi!” really makes visitors and guests feel warmly welcomed. 

Sometime during the presidency of Dick Bohlin or Dave Reemsnyder the tradition of gift giving started.  Specifically, a Rotary Cup was presented to our guest speakers.  That gave way to giving the Jefferson Cup- a token of appreciation to each speaker for having shared with us. 

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Our Club’s Charter Members

Under the sponsorship of the Evening Club, a charter was granted to the new group by Rotary International on January 25, 1979.  Charter night was held on February 15, 1979 at the Continuing Education center on the Virginia Tech campus.  The Club had 51 initial members and its official name was the Rotary Club of Blacksburg-Christiansburg Noon.  The first officers and board of directors were Bane Atkinson, President; Bob Sullins, Secretary; Gordon Winbery, Treasurer; and Lew Shelor, Sergeant at Arms.

The initial members of the new club as listed in its first bulletin were:

* These members marked with an asterisk were (are) “Charter Members” of the Club meaning their names are listed on the Charter by R.I.

Past, current and future Presidents

Select the links to see the President's Profile

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Bane Atkinson, Al Bowman, John Brown, Jim Johnson, Ken Martin, Bob Oliver, Lew Shelor, John Skelton, Dave Widder

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Changes

In 1988, the Club voted to accept women into full membership and Joyce Hoerner was elected as the first woman member of the Club. Many women have accepted membership since then. Now at least 20% of our Club are women. In 2002 Mary Miller was our first woman president.

Also, a decade after the birth of the Club, we officially changed our name to the Rotary Club of Blacksburg.

Community Support

Our former President, Dick Talbot, in 1993 said it best and it is our truth still today.  “Our primary objective will be to focus on local community service.  Our strategy for this is to provide as many noon programs as possible on community issues and to design one project aimed at better communication and more community pride.”

The earliest community support project aided by the Club acting as an organization may have been the YMCA Garden Project for senior citizens.  The seniors have small garden plots for themselves in various locations, which are seeded and worked by other people except for those who want to do this themselves.  The Club began early putting $300.00 each year into this program. 

Two other programs, which began early in the Club’s existence, were the Christmas Store and the Club’s Fine Arts Awards to high school students.  The Christmas Store, which had its start in Montgomery County in 1982, received significant support from the Club and its members from its very beginning.