Remember that early in the year 1920 when our club was formed that Rotary International thought that Kent, Ohio was too small of a city or town to support a club.
By 1925, A campaign was launched by Rotary international to establish Rotary clubs in the small cities and towns of the United States. Before the year was over clubs had been established by our Kent club in five towns namely Bedford, Cuyahoga Falls, Garrettsville, Ravenna, and Shelby an average of one organization perfected every two months. When it is considered that it was necessary to create an interest in each city by talking with the leading business and professional men, to get the men together for a preliminary organization, to contact headquarters of Rotary international, to arrange for permanent organization, and a plan and secure speakers for the charter night program, the tremendous amount of work required can be visualized. During the year the 21st district grew from 34 to 60 clubs and Kent alone was responsible for approximately 20% of this increase.
Also that year, under the direction of Arthur Babbitt, the Boy Scout Movement in Kent, expanded from one group with 16 members to five troops with over a hundred boys.
By 1925, A campaign was launched by Rotary international to establish Rotary clubs in the small cities and towns of the United States. Before the year was over clubs had been established by our Kent club in five towns namely Bedford, Cuyahoga Falls, Garrettsville, Ravenna, and Shelby an average of one organization perfected every two months. When it is considered that it was necessary to create an interest in each city by talking with the leading business and professional men, to get the men together for a preliminary organization, to contact headquarters of Rotary international, to arrange for permanent organization, and a plan and secure speakers for the charter night program, the tremendous amount of work required can be visualized. During the year the 21st district grew from 34 to 60 clubs and Kent alone was responsible for approximately 20% of this increase.
Also that year, under the direction of Arthur Babbitt, the Boy Scout Movement in Kent, expanded from one group with 16 members to five troops with over a hundred boys.
Submitted by Jim Myers
