© 2003, Rotary Club of Charleston

P.O. Box 21029
Charleston, SC 29413-1029

Club secretary:
Carroll Schweers
chasrot@comcast.net

Club grows throughout the 1940s
Has more than 120 members by end of decade

From "Service Above Self: A History of the Rotary Club of Charleston -- 1920 - 2004," published Feb. 2005.

Read more. You can learn all about the Club's activities in the 1940s by downloading the full chapter.

As the Rotary Club of Charleston entered its third decade, it was to realize a new potential in its leadership and emerge stronger. Members became more aware of the Club's responsibilities and capabilities than ever before.
As in past decades, Charleston Rotarians' countless hours of war-related and other community service showed they epitomized "service above self."

Membership

In 1940, membership stood at 84, and with the demands of the years of World War II, and the calling of many members into service, it was a struggle even to show an increase of 14 members by 1945.
The District Conference was held in Charleston in April 1949 and the decade closed with 116 members on the roster.

Projects and community service

Rotary members were in the forefront in the war bond drives. In 1943, Rotarians purchased $514,737 worth of bonds in the Third War Loan campaign, and in the Fifth campaign, they raised almost $100,000. They worked on scrap metal drives and for the U.S.O. They helped entertain the wounded at Stark General Hospital. Contributions from the Club went regularly to the Red Cross and various war relief agencies.

In 1946, the Club turned its attention to postwar planning. For the first time, the Club exceeded 100 in membership. In the same year, the Club sponsored the start of the North Charleston Rotary Club. Julius Schroeder served as special representative to organize the new club.

In 1946, Jack Krawcheck, chairman of the Civic Welfare Committee, supervised a project for the beautification of Marion Square. Club members raised $10,000 for this project, which involved the planting of more than 10,000 shrubs, plants and trees, the laying out of a promenade, the installations of copies of old Charleston gas lamps, and other work to turn the bleak vista into a beauty spot.
The years 1947 and 1948 were particularly good for our Club. For two years in succession, the Charleston Club received the President's Award for the state. Recognition was given in 1947 for the mammoth job Charleston Rotarians had done in shipping more than 300 packages weighing more than a ton to help the distressed people of Charleville, France.

The decade was not to close without seeing further growth of Rotary International in our area. In 1947, the Charleston Club sponsored the organization and chartering of the Summerville Rotary Club with special representative Tyre Cockerham leading the way. In 1949, the Charleston Club started the St. Andrews Rotary Club. Hans Koebig was the special representative.

Notable speakers

Distinguished guests spent time with members of the Rotary Club of Charleston during the decade, including:

• Fernande Carbojal of Lima, Peru, who served as president of Rotary International in the early 1940s;
  
• S.C. Gov. Olin D. Johnson;
  
• Secretary of State James F. Byrnes; and
  
• Lady Astor.

The only remaining living man of the four who started Christmas Seals in 1907, L. Mitchell Hodges, spoke to the club.

-- Peter Lucash, contributing editor