Rotary Club of Newfoundland
History

The idea of forming a Rotary Club in Newfoundland had its birth 59 years ago in the office of the supervising principal of the Greene-Dreher School sometime in early January, 1950.

Joseph Jacobs, principal and S. Clair Smith, President of the Pocono Mountains Rotary Club discussed the possiblilities of organizing a service club in this area.  A survey was taken of business and professional men regarding Rotary.  Since reactions were favorable, a preliminary meeting was held with ten prospective members in attendance.  Clair Smith, Elmer Daniels and Ted Jenkins of the Pocono Mountains Club explained the aims and purposes of Rotary International and answered questions regarding Rotary.

The group decided to continue the effort to organize a Newfoundland Club.  On January 28, 1950, twenty-two businessmen attended a meeting held at the Newfoundland Hotel and the following officers were elected:  Joseph Jacobs, President; F. Carrol Krautter, Vice President; Fred Hart, Treasurer; and Robert Staph, Secretary.

A subsequent weekly meetings, details of organizing and obtaining a Charter from Rotary International were worked out by the Club.  Meetings would be held on Monday evenings at the Hotel.  Constitution and By-Laws were adopted with the assistance of District Governor Benton Whipple.  Breaking away from the traditional "Greene-Dreher" title, which prefixed many organizations in this area, the group adopted "The Rotary Club of Newfoundland, Pennsylvania" as ists official title.  Although most of the meetings held were business sessions a number of typical Rotary programs were presented.

Among those individuals who were instrumental in the Club's organization were Clair Smith, Elmer Daniels, Dick Price, Ted Jenkins, Joe Wile, Andy Lewis, Tom Mullen, Bill Sengle, Hugh Talmadge, Roy Michener, Charles Vogt, Cliff Steffens, Lawrence Hay and Rev. Harold MacMurray, all from the Pocono Mountains Club; Walter Fossa, and Ken Banzhof of the Mount Pocono Club; Walter Feeney, Joe Barnes and William Toewe of the Stroudsburg Club; Joe Bollen from the Chester Pike Club and Governor Benton Whipple of Laceyville.

The application was forwarded to Rotary International in Chicago for approval.  On March 29th, President Jacobs received a wire from Governor Whipple that the provisional Club of Newfoundland had been accepted into Rotary International as a full fledged Club, effective March 27th, 1950.

The Charter Night part was held on April 24th at the Penquin Circle (now known as the Greentown Medical Center) in Greentown.  "Charter Night" was a huge success with over 150 Rotarians and the ladies in attendance.  Pocono Mountains led the way with 45 guests.  Eleven other Clubs were represented: Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Stroudsburg, Honesdale, New Milford, Mount Pocono, Plains, Wyoming, Lansford, Pittston and Laceyville.  Telegrams of best wishes were sent by Dunmore and Towanda.  After receiving the Charter number 7478, the Club was presented with the following gifts: the American Flag from New Milford, the RI Banner from Mount Pocono, the Rotary Bell from Honesdale, membership pins from Stroudsburg, Rotary booklets from Plains and a secretary's kit from Pocono Mountains.