Rotary Club of Windsor
About Our Club
The History of Windsor Rotary
The first organization meeting of the Windsor Club was held at the Windsor House on October 12th, 1923. The sponsoring club was Claremont, New Hampshire, with Bert Mason as the Special Representative for the District Governor. Forty-Eight Rotarians from Claremont, Lebanon, and Newport were present for the organization meeting. There were 21 Windsorites who signed “Charter Membership” cards. Officers elected at the first meeting of the Windsor Rotary Club were:
President – Ned Bicknell
Vice President -Ralph Walker
Treasurer – Andrew McClary
Secretary – Edward BOak
Directors – Neil Foster, Walter Saxie, Harry Harris
Ned Bicknell, who was a lawyer and County Judge, has been given much credit for getting the Windsor Rotary Club on the right road with its continued success. The story goes that on being elected president, he remarked that the members did the right things by electing him president as he had kept every one of them from going to the Vermont State Prison. Thus, a little humor at the beginning has continued through to the present day.
Meetings were held each Monday at the Windsor House. The program committee for the entire year was made up of Ernest Keir, Lew Springer, and Ralph Walker. Andrew McClary, a banker, the first treasurer of the club served in the capacity for ten years. Also, Edward Boak, was the first secretary, who was Superintendent of Schools, served for the same length of time.
Lyman Cabot was elected Sergeant-at-Arms. Ernest Keir was the first Windsor Rotarian to make up, by attending the Claremont Rotary meeting on October 22nd, 1923.
The Youth Committee was the first committee to be active by inviting Windsor High School Boys to attend Rotary meetings. The subject was brought to extend an invitation to hold the Girls State Basketball Tournament in Windsor, to be sponsored by the Rotary Club.
An invitation was extended to President Calvin Coolidge to become an honorary member of the Windsor Rotary Club, which he accepted.
The club voted to purchase and present to the Boy Scouts of Windsor a United States flag and appropriated the sum of $30.00.
On May 5th, 1924 the Publicity Committee was instructed to buy and erect Rotary Club signs at the road entrances to the Windsor Village.
Through the kindness of the National Acme Company, arrangements were made for the use of t heir club rooms by Rotary in the Windsor House. Here, amid attractive surroundings Lew Springer served a most excellent meal for 75 cents.