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History of the Westchester Rotary ClubThe BeginningIf the Westchester Rotary is a monument to any one person, that person is the late Fred Nuss, a dedicated Rotarian from the Crenshaw Club, who in the summer of 1948 established his office in Westchester. It was a happening that destined him to be our Founding Father. The Formative Years 1950-1955Satisfying as it would be to record that the infant club had no growing pains, there were problems. Projects were plentiful, but money was scarce and attendance was sketchy. An infusion of virile new blood, backed by a "hard core" of Charter Members resolved the crisis. Through the Sixties and SeventiesThe next twenty years the Club expanded greatly, both in membership and the scope of its projects. Now a civic power in the community, requests for participation in community affairs are numerous. Under the aegis of Rotary are Boy and Girl Scouts sponsored troops, the Westchester Townhouse, the Westchester Lariats and Westchester Beautiful. The Book Sale, a creation of Glen Engelbretsen in 1956 and fathered by Joe Conley for many years, generates money for the unbroken progression of scholarship grants that have increased in number with the years. To date (1971) $17,000 has been allocated to this worthy cause. Contributions to The Rotary Foundation account for our 1,300% participation plateau. Two Rotary Fellows have been selected from the Westchester areas and the club has awarded Paul Harris Fellowships to Founder Fred Nuss (posthumously) and H.H. "Ole" Johnston. Annually the club undertakes management of Grad Nite-an all-night trip to Disneyland for high school graduates, and assists the Health Department with its rabies prevention inoculations. The club bulletin is issued weekly. A history of the club's first 16 years has been published. Being presented visually with the Flip Chart augments Rotary Information. Sociality has not been overlooked. Varied bi-monthly happenings, a Ladies' Day and a Secretary's Day are traditional, capped by an annual weekend of 'Fun in the Sun" at Palm Desert. At this time (1971) the Club has 80 active members, many of them of long prominence in community affairs. The Club has produced two District Governors, Scott E. Miller (1964-65) and Earl A. Smith (1974-75). Among its numerous District awards the Club has been adjudged "Best Club" on three occasions (1957-58, President Allen Crews; 1962-63, President M.E. Harriott, and 1966-67, President Harold Johnston), twice as second best and once third. Dozens of men have played major roles in the club's onward course to its present eminence. Space does not permit the listing of all their names, but with the passing of time history will record them as the legendary figures of the '70's who maintained the gathering momentum of the '50's and '60's. The work goes on; only the faces change. Gratifying as the statistics may appear, the real strength of the Club remains as always in the fellowship and good will engendered by the amicable association of dedicated men joined in the congenial pursuit of 'Service Above Self." (Written by H.H. "Ole" Johnston for the 21st Anniversary Program, 1971, edited 2000) Into the Eighties and NinetiesThe fight against polio became the major focus of Rotary International since the mid-eighties. In response the Westchester Club Rotarians were more than generous in their contributions. The First Annual Monte Carlo Night proceeds were dedicated to PolioPlus. In 1987, Rotary admitted women as members. Westchester inducted Rowena Ake and Carmela Raack. The acceptance was not well received in the beginning but even staunch opponent Earl Smith admitted it was the best thing that ever happened to Rotary. The club made its third move, first from the Broadway Terrace, then to the Airport Marina Hotel, to the LAX Marriott. This was to be the club's home until the summer of 1999 when the club roamed from place to place while the Marriott was undergoing major remodeling. Following a new weeklong Book Sale under the enthusiastic and businesslike leadership of Skip Petersen the club received the outstanding Club Award for 1989-90. In the early '90's the club began the popular Progressive Dinners that benefited the YMCA Youth and Government Program. A sporting challenge was extended to the Venice-Marina Rotary for the now annual Rotary Bowl in support of the Westchester and Venice High School athletic programs. President Bob Henry in 1991 along with Charter Member Earl Smith, Vocational Director Dan Verdin and Youth Director Carmela Raack established the Earl Smith 4-Way Test Program and the Citizen of the Year. The first Rotarian of the Year was presented in 1991 to President Bob Henry. John Nugent served as District Governor in 1994-95. Len Gundersen was the Governor's Aide and a number of members were active on District committees. Since that time many have remained active in the District. Always with strong attention to education the Club began the Annual Teacher's Mini-Grant Program. Inviting 18 schools in the Westchester community to participate as many as 35 grants are awarded each year. An outstanding year for President Bob Smith included the club records for 17 new members and 45 new Paul Harris Fellows. The First Annual Courageous Citizen's Awards were held in cooperation with the Office of the District Attorney. Interact Clubs were began at St. Bernard and for the second time at Westchester High School. These popular clubs provided service and friendship with a tremendous number of projects and activities. The El Sauzal Orphanage in Baja California became a special project with the club including visits by Rotarians and Interactors at holiday time with Santa Claus, gifts, clothing and food. In 1999 Larry Plotkin coordinated a project for new blankets for everyone in the orphanage. With the "Adopt a Fire Station" Program chaired by Jim Vuchsas began the Annual Pancake Breakfast hosted by Javier Cano at Fire Station #5. More than $30,000 was donated by business and community members to refurbish and update the fire station. The Outstanding Club again was Westchester with President Gwen Vuchsas developing the Foundation programs. Rotarians visited classrooms for the Read to Me Literacy Program, applied for its first RI Matching Grants one to Santiago, Chile to provide a hospital baby monitor and another for 30 shelters in Sir Lanka. The Westchester Rotary Foundation was expanded to include an Endowment. Judy Young's Endowment donation provided toward a new First Generation to College Scholarship. Several other scholarships were added during the '90's including the Jerry Madera Leadership Scholarship, the Kriston Palomo Athletic Scholarship and Interact Scholarships. Student Exchange Programs reached new destinations in the '90's. After more than 30 years Westchester continues to annually send a student to Japan with the District Program. For more than 20 years New Zealand Exchange Students have been hosted by Westchester. Since 1997 students have traveled to Bavaria Germany or to the United States from Germany. Each year a LMU Ambassadorial Scholar travels to a different part of the world. A New MillenniumInto a new century the Rotary Club of Westchester continues to grow with new projects and new members, focusing on everything from literacy and local philanthropic endeavors to international projects that benefit people from Mexico to Sri Lanka. The current membership consists of men and women of the greater Westchester/LAX business and professional community. |
