Jackson Rotary marks 75 years

The service organization responsible for such projects as the lake and the walking trail in Jackson's city park will be celebrating its 75th anniversary this week.

Rotary Club International will hold a social hour and dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The Rotary Club has a rich tradition in Jackson and several movers and shakers among its membership. The club has supplied money for local and worldwide efforts.

The most notable local projects in Jackson include a long-standing sponsorship of the local Boy Scout Troop 11. Jackson's Rotary club sponsored the troop in 1929 and hasn't stopped since.

The Rotarians also paid for the construction of the 3.2-acre Rotary lake, the walking trail that surrounds the lake and the lights around the trail.

The lake was built in 1977 for $13,000.

"At the time, $13,000 was a lot more than it is today," said Rotarian Stone Manes, who has missed only two meetings since he joined the club in 1959 and was in the hospital both of those times.

The Rotary Club has also donated money for the pitching and batting cages at Legion Field.

"They've always shown strong support to the city's parks," said city park director Shane West Anderson. Anderson said there has been some discussion about Rotary helping out with the soccer park once it is completed.

Manes is one of Jackson's most active members. He leads the songs at the beginning of meetings and is known for telling the group "We're all in good voice today" whether it's true or not.

Manes is particularly proud of Rotary's international fight against polio.

"Rotary is the first service club," Manes said. "Rotary is the organization that is working to stamp out polio in the world, and the Jackson Rotary Club has certainly played its part in that effort."

The club also sponsors exchange students. Students from several countries have studied at Jackson High School on Rotary scholarships, and several Jackson students have been sent abroad.

"It's a great organization and a great opportunity to have fellowship with folks locally," club president Steve Skelton said. "It's been a great experience for me. The fellowship we spend with different projects is great, along with the weekly meetings we have."

Rotary clubs began to form in Southeast Missouri in the early 1900s.

A Cape Girardeau club was formed in 1919, followed by Jackson in 1929.

Jackson's original roster consisted of 22 members. Today's roster has 82 people.

Ray Klinginsmith, a trustee of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, will be the speaker Tuesday night.

bmiller@semissourian.com

243-6635