Rotary Club of Silver City

Service Above Self

History

Officially,  the  Rotary  Club  of  Silver  City  was  formed  in  1923,  but  the  oldest  available  picture  of  club  membership  dates  to  1937.  Club  members  shown  are:  (Standing,  left  to  right)  Harold  Kelsey,  Fred  Parrish,  Clyde  Ely, John  O’Leary,  Dr. Arthur  Gill,  Seth  Larson, T.A.  Shutte,  George  Johnson,  Jack  Wilson,  Ross  Calvin.  (Sitting,  left  to  right)  Frank  Parrish,  Fred  Smith,  Julius  Becker  (visiting),  Jack Amy,  Dr.  Nate  Frazin,  Melvin  Porterfield  Sr., Bob Noble, Hadden W. James, J. Vernon Glenn, Milton Stovall.

The Club was chartered on November 2, 1923 
CHARTER BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
President – Earl Sprague, Physician, NM Cottage Sanatorium
VICE-PRESIDENT – A.O. Bowden, President, NM Normal University
SECRETARY – William R. Warner Insurance Agent & Forest Ranger
TREASURER – E.A. Woodhull, Editor of the Silver City Enterprise
SERGEANT-AT-ARMS – William Murray, Merchant, store in CentralCHARTER MEMBERS:
Harry E. Bassett, Ford auto dealer
John H. Blackwell, book and jewelry store owner
Frank B. Brewer, physician, executive officer, Fort Bayard
W.S. Cox, hardware store and mortuary owner
James B. Gilchrist, banker, cattleman, banker, engineer
Roland A. Laird, house painter
Don W. Lusk, newspaperman, editor
Raymond B. Ryan, lawyer, district judge
John Schadel, bakery owner
A.D. Seitzler, saddle maker
Frederick Winn, forest supervisor
Ira L. Wright, mining engineer
More history is represented by the following listing of club presidents since 1923 and, in the case of recent years, some Rotary activities during those years:
2020-21
President: Bart Roselli
The Covid-19 Pandemic forced us to meet virtually via Zoom
We adopted a new strategic plan
Sunny Kellerman served as District Governor
With the help of a District Grant and community support through a matching donation program we were able to contribute $12,590 to support the food pantries run by The Commons
We conducted Fact of Fiction fundraisers on Zoom for Polio Plus and to support the High Desert Humane Society
The total raised for Polio Plus was $2,300.
2019-20
President: Rosie Higgs
We again raised nearly $2,000 for Polio Plus.
We received another District Grant to continue to Kindergarten Book project and to introduce vocational scholarships.
Sunny Kellerman served as District Governor Elect spending untold hours and days in training and preparing for her District Governor year in 2020-21.
Peter Falley was appointed District Grants Chair for District 5520
We conducted a couple of successful garage sales
2018-19
President: Peter Herzberg
Sunny Kellerman was nominated to District Governor Elect during 2019-21
We continued the Kindergarten Book project, this time with the help of a District Grant.
College scholarships of $1,500 each were awarded to Jose-Miguel Ruiz and Raelynn Moon.
We hosted Rotary Youth Exchange Student Jan Schwarzfeld.
Jan also attended the RYLA camp along with his friend Parker McMillan.
We received a Rotary Citation at the District Conference and
Peter Falley was honored with an Inspirational Rotarian award
We revised our bylaws to reduce the size of the club board
Our Valentine’s Dinner fundraiser generated $4,500 for the New Mexico Nature Conservancy
We adopted a section of the median on Highway 180 East
2017-18
President: Joe Heidrick
A successful Auction was held in October and raised about $32,000, with $9,700 going to each of the following beneficiaries Life Quest, the Gila Valley Library, and the Silver City Gospel Mission.
Our End Polio reception in early November raised over $2,000 for Polio Plus.
We received a Community Grant from the District for a Water Catchment project at the Volunteer Center’s Commons and saw the project to completion.
We distributed about 1,000 books to Kindergarten children and elementary school libraries.
We acquired 29 small trees and distributed them to be planted by members and others.
Sunny Yates served as Assistant District Governor.
We received Club of the Year recognition at the District Conference.
Our Valentine’s Dinner/Fundraiser raised $2,500 for Big Brothers Big Sisters
2016-17
President: Suzanne Kavanagh
The Club worked on preparations for the Auction to be held in October.
$1,500 college scholarships were awarded to Maryssa Young and Raelynn Botello. In addition, two WNMU students received $1,000 scholarships from the WNMU Rotary Scholarship Fund.
Donations from our club to The Rotary Foundation amounted to $12,729 for the past year.
The second Murder Mystery Dinner raised over $2,200 split evenly between the Silver City Community Theater and the Silver City Rotary Foundation Scholarship Fund.
The End Polio Reception in October raised $3,000, which with matching funds from the Gates Foundationand the District added up to about $10,000.
We received a $2,000 Community Grant from the District for the School Gardens Project, and participated in the construction of equipment for the school gardens.
Hosted Swiss Rotary Youth Exchange Student Felicitas Zehnder for half a year.
2015-16
President: Leslie Bush
Membership increased to 33 active members.
The Club started the process of applying for a District Grant for a School Gardens project at three Elementary Schools in Silver City.
We awarded a $1,500 college scholarship to Morgan Weber and two smaller WNMU scholarships to Serena Pack and Camille Dalton at WNMU.
The club received several recognitions at the District Conference:
  • Best club social media award for a mid-sized club.
  • Anna Pajala was star in the International Student talent show.
  • Sunny Yates received the Outstanding Active Rotarian Award

Our Valentine’s Dinner raised $2,239 for the High Desert Humane Society.
We updated our Strategic Plan.
We held our first Mystery Dinner fundraiser in cooperation with the Silver City Community Theater. The event raised $1,640 for the Silver City Myseum Society and an equal amount for the Community Theater.
We sponsored Josh Saenz for RYLA.
Hosted Finnish Rotary Youth Exchange Student Anna Pajala.
The Silver City Rotary Foundation came into full operation with its approval as a 501.c.(3) charitable foundation by the IRS.

2014-15

President: Peter Falley
We received several awards at the District Conference:

  • The Presidential Citationo
  • Sonny Brown Business of the Year Awards for Lawley Motors in the large business category and Gila Hike and Bike in the small business category.
  • Membership increase recognition.
  • Best website for a medium-sized club
  • 2014-15 Outstanding Achievement Award to recognize our many accomplishments and particularly our involvement at the District and International level.

We hosted the district-wide  meeting of Rotary Youth Exchange students in December.
We adopted a new club banner designed by Joe Kellerman.
We started the process of establishing a 501.c.(3) charitable foundation, the Silver City Rotary Foundation.
The Club was once again one of the clubs supporting the Guatemala Water Project
Active membership increased from 28 to 31 during the year.
We had two students, Mikaela Newman and Molly Nix, attend in RYLA camp in July.
Hosted German Rotary Youth Exchange Student Kilian Schwabe

 

2013-14

President: Sunny Yates
Rotary Auction produced sufficient funds to enable the club to award $12,000 to each of the following nonprofit organizations: Literacy Link – Leamos, The Imagination Library of Grant County, The Grant County Volunteer Center.
Club received Presidential Citation with Distinction.
Club was named Small Club of the Year at District Conference.
Alotta Gelato receive Small Business of the Year award at District Conference.
Two Students awarded Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and sent to RYLA camp in July 2014
Awarded two $1,500 college scholarships to graduating high school students
Hosted Belgian Rotary Youth Exchange Student Emilie Charlez.

Presidents 2012-2013 and Before:
2012-2013 William Knuttinen
2011-2012 Wayne Barnard
2010-2011 Christy Miller
2009-2010 Tony Macias
2008-2009 Jim Callender
2007-2008 Phillip “Chris” Farren
2006-2007 Ray Davis
2005-2006 Kathy Eaton
2004-2005 James Edd Hughes
2003-2004 Laura Howell
2002-2003 Mark Erickson
2001-2002 Cynthia Bettison
2000-2001 Steve Maxwell
1999-2000 Lanny Olson
1998-1999 Dennis Hunter
1997-1998 Teri Gatton
1996-1997 Celia Foy Castillo
1995-1996 Kevin Thompson
1994-1995 Dan Tressler
1993-1994 Steve Jacobson
1992-1993 Laura Wygant
1991-1992 Robert Taylor
1990-1991 Don White
1989-1990 Richard “Dick” Rhoades
1988-1989 William “Bill” Harrison
1987-1988 Tom Turner
1986-1987 Librado Maldonado
1985-1986 G. Dean Martin, Librado Maldonado
1984-1985 John Butler
1983-1984 Bob Keil
1982-1983 Hilton Dickson
1981-1982 Murray Ryan
1980-1981 Earl Hathorn
1979-1980 Tom Lloyd
1978-1979 Ollie McCrary
1977-1978 Elton C. Smith
1976-1977 Bill W. Nichols
1975-1976 R.E. “Bob” West
1974-1975 William G. “Bill” Word
1973-1974 Fred A. Crawford
1972-1973 Ed Walkey
1971-1972 William J. “Bill” Colby
1970-1971 Tom Hilton
1969-1970 Richard C. “Dick” Johnson
1968-1969 Frank Woodruff
1967-1968 J.W. “Wes” Stebbins
1966-1967 Jess Bingaman
1965-1966 Sid Curtis
1964-1965 J. “Joe” Welsh
1963-1964 H.O. “Hubert” Robertson
1962-1963 B. “Blaine” Nolan, William D. “Dave” Reams
1961-1962 M.L. “Maurice” Parrish
1960-1961 N. “Newt” Glenn
1959-1960 C.L. “Chauncie” Snyder
1958-1959 J. “Jack” Saunders
1957-1958 C. “Clyde” Betts
1956-1957 David Holt
1955-1956 M.W. “Maurice” Davis
1954-1955 R.E. “Bon” Demming
1953-1954 Hank Romney
1952-1953 M.H. “Maurice” Conner
1951-1952 Art Gill
1950-1951 C. “Carl” Elayer
1949-1950 Nacho Galindo
1948-1949 C. “Clark” Doherty
1947-1948 J. “Joe” taylor
1946-1947 Ben Shantz
1945-1946 J.G. “John” Harlan
1944-1945 George Johnson
1943-1944 F.N. “Frank” Parrish
1942-1943 T.H. Schutte
1941-1942 Edwin E. Slover
1940-1941 Clyde Ely
1939-1940 Milton Stovall
1938-1939 H. James
1937-1938 Mel Porterfield
1936-1937 John O’Leary
1935-193 Ross Calvin
1934-1935 J.V. “Vernon” Glenn
1933-1934 J.H. “Jack” Amy
1932-1933 W.E. “Bill” Park
1931-1932 Seth Larson
1930-1931 N.D. “Nate” Frazin
1929-1930 R.S. “Ray” Sensanbaugher
1928-1929 P.H. “Harvey” Harsh
1927-1928 R.P. “Bob” Noble
1926-1927 A.O. “Dean” Bowden
1925-1926 W.R. “Bill” Warner, E.A. “Woody” Woodhull
1924-1925 W.S. “Billy” Cox
1923-1924 Earl Sprague, Dr. Earl “Pop” Bullock