On October 1, 1971 Bruce Coleman, then of the Rotary Club of Nanaimo, sent a report to Rotary International requesting permission to form a new club. In the subsequent detailed ‘Extension Survey’ sent May 8, 1972, Nanaimo is noted to have a population of about 15,000 and very good economic prospects. It proposes 2 meeting sites: Nanaimo Golf Club and CarmensSteak House.
The existing Rotary club has a membership of 100 men of which about a dozen would leave to be the basis for the new club.
The Rotary Club of Nanaimo signed a ‘Relinquishment of Territory’ July 29, 1972, to give some of its area to the new Club.
THE TERRITORY
In 1972 the geographic territory for each Rotary Club was very specific in order to ensure enough population to support membership and not to impede on another Club. The Rotary International rules were clear about the importance of Territorial Limit: No members may be admitted whose places of business or place of residence are both outside the specifically defined territory of the Club.
The Nanaimo newspaper announcement said it was from Townsite Road to Nanoose. More specifically it was defined as:
All territory north and west of Townsite Road to East Wellington Road along to Jingle Pot Road and thence west of West Road and projected to the mountain land. The northern boundary begins at Parksville and the Englishman’s River following to the south Fork of the river south and west to the mountain district.
FINAL CHARTER MEETING
September 11, 1972. The ‘Application for Charter Membership’ includes 33 founding members. A few notables are Secretary Doug Balfour, President Dave Trace, Bruce Coleman, Doug Greer, Bert LaBonte, Ted Jeffs, Mike Mah.
It was a big meeting! Votes were taken to finalize:
• The Club name as Rotary Club of Nanaimo North
• Bylaws
• Territorial limits
• The Board of Directors
• Time and day for meetings (at the time they decided on Mondays at 6:15pm)
• Yearly fee
THE BIG EVENT – CHARTER PRESENTATION GALA
Saturday November 25, 1972 at 7:00pm at the Nanaimo Golf and Country Club. The cost was $6 per person, and there were 140 in attendance, including 13 Presidents and their wives from as far away as Washington State, Victoria, Salt Spring and Courtney. The new Club received congratulations from Roy Hickman, RI President, many Clubs in Canada, Washington State, Australia, New Zealand and England.
The Program notes that the Club was organized September 11, 1972 and elected to membership in Rotary International October 15, 1972
Master of Ceremonies: Bruce Coleman
The key address was given by District Governor Dr Gene Campbell.
The Founding Board members were:
• President Dave Trace
• Vice President Cam Mayes
• Secretary Doug Balfour
• Treasurer Bill Dobson
• Directors Charlie Crawford, Jack Vallance, Norm Henderson, Jim McKee
Full list of Charter Members:
Doug BalfourJack Vallance
Geoff BarrettBrian Vint
Paul BeliveauJack Weeks
Bruce ColemanEarle Weisenbuger
Bob DawDale Winkler
Bill DobsonJim Yates
Bob GordonBob Young
Nick Green
Doug Greer
Jim Halpenny
Norm Henderson
Walt Hrushowy
Ted Jeffs
Doug Jones
Bert LaBonte
Jim McKee
Gunner Magnussen
Mike Mah
Cam Mayes
Ian Paterson
Bob Ramsden
Don Rawlins
Berk Sabourin
Tom Stubbs
Dave Trace
* Reminder that dinner now costs $27.
*Next meeting March 21 is a Beer and Burger Fundraiser at Pipers Pub. Get your “tickets” on line. Jim is looking for more items for the silent auction.
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