We trace our beginnings to Rotary's first Chicago area expansion plans. Beginning in 1919, Oak Parkers began meeting in November as Rotarians but were officially recognized and chartered on January 14, 1920. We started with 24 organizing members with Telfer MacArthur as president. Over the years we have grown to be approximately 110 members strong. As in the beginning, our membership represents a broad range of community businesses and professions and our membership is open to all willing to accept the ideals of Rotary International and its Four Way Test**.

The objectives of Rotary International, and, hence, the local Club are four fold: 1. To offer a vehicle for community service; 2. To promote high ethical standards, recognizing the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignity of each; 3. To apply the ideal of service to personal business and community life; and, 4: To advance international understanding, goodwill and peace through world fellowship.

Our first service project in 1919 was to prepare and distribute Christmas baskets to the needy. Local benevolence has continued to be an important part of our charitable work with our support of community organizations ranging from the Boy Scouts to the YMCA and everything in between. We try to provide money for innovative programs or ideas which might not otherwise be funded by traditional support agencies.

Another important local activity is our sponsorship of a significant scholarship program. Annually, seniors at the three local high schools participate in an essay writing contest outlining their community service. The winners are given scholarships to the college or university of choice.

We have attempted to recognize community service within our two villages by citing individuals and the work they do. Our program is named after one of our members, a local Baptist preacher, Carl Winters, who became known worldwide as a motivational speaker and a proud proponent of public service. The awards in Carl's memory are recognized by a plaque given to the recipient.

Rotary International's charitable activities have always been an important part of Oak Park-River Forest Rotary's program. Each member is invited to become a member of The Rotary Foundation by making a substantial contribution and thereby becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. More than half the members of the Club are Paul Harris Fellows. The Foundation conducts a major scholarship program sending hundreds of US students abroad as well as bringing scholars from around the world to study in American schools. The most significant recent campaign of The Rotary Foundation has been the attempt, with other health agencies, to eradicate polio. This has involved hundreds of millions of dollars and thousands of volunteers world wide to inoculate millions of children. The number of cases of polio has been cut from more than 350,000 cases annually in 1988 to less than 50 cases in 2005, and the program continues to work toward complete eradication.

In 1921, we established our weekly news bulletin The Rotary Razz. The name probably refers indirectly to the rag time jazz era but it possibly was chosen because of its alliterative sound. Members now get the bulletin distributed either in print, or email format.

We are a diverse group of men and women representing a wide range of professions and specialties. Our banner proclaims some of our heritage by recognizing community members who are nationally and internationally known.

Our history is given in detail in The History of The Rotary Club of Oak Park- River Forest 1919-2001. The Millennium Edition is available at local public libraries or from current members.

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** The Four Way Test: of the things we think, say or do 1: Is it the truth? 2: Is it fair to all concerned? 3: Will it build goodwill and better friendships? 4: Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

View the list of our past presidents.

There is a village lot to the West of Holley Court Terrace and a parking garage to the south. Do not park in the fenced in lot directly behind Holley Court Terrace, that is for tenants only. Nearby metered parking is strictly enforced.

President: Bob Giles
President-Elect: Bill Planek
Vice-President: Clarmarie Keenan
Immediate Past President: Ruth McLaren
Secretary: Nancy Teclaw
Treasurer: Chuck Hilbrich

Board Members to June 30, 2008
Curt Cruver
Matt Grote
Marlene Kamm
Jerry Parker

Board Members to June 30, 2008
Mickey Baer
Dee Brennan
Jaime Escobar
Marc Stopeck

Committee Chairs for the coming year:
Attendance: Curt Cruver
Community Service/Local Projects: John Williams
Finance: Chuck Hilbrich
First Thursday - Social Hour: Scott McAdam
Glee Club: Bob Giles
Golf Outing: Jim Marshall
Group Study Exchange: Marie Olmos
International Service: Jaime Escobar
Literacy: Werner Huget
Long Range Planning: Ruth McLaren
Membership: Matt Grote
Nominating: Bob Giles
Program: Clarmarie Keenan
Public Relations: Rick Hibbert
   Website - Werner Huget
Sergeants-at-Arms: Gerry Lordan
Special Events: Mickey Baer
Rotary Foundation: Lesley Gottlinger
Vocational: John Hedges
Youth Exchange/Ambassadorial Scholarship: Gerry Lordan

Our Banner honors five of our communities' most famous citizens, and depicts (from left to right) Ernest Hemingway and Frank Lloyd Wright. Short biographies follow:

Edgar Rice Burroughs (1875 - 1950) Known the world over as the creator of the Tarzan series of adventure books, Burroughs was a prolific author in many fictional genres. His writings and characters have entertained many generations of readers and moviegoers.

Ernest Hemingway (1898 - 1961) Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1954, this controversial author of many famous works was born and raised in Oak Park. He served as an Editor of the local high school newspaper before leaving to seek his fortune in the world. The oft repeated quote, "Oak Park is a place of broad lawns and narrow minds", supposedly attributed to him, is generally debunked by serious scholars.

Doris Humphrey (1895 - 1958) Born in Oak Park, this pioneer of the American Modern Dance Movement was an innovator in the technique, choreography, and theory of dance. After studying with Irene and Vernon Castle, she became principle dancer, teacher, and co-choreographer of the influential Denishawn Company. She went on to become one of the founders of the Dance Department at the Julliard School of Music.

Percy Julian (1899 - 1975) Grandson of a slave, Julian overcame tremendous odds to become one of the most brilliant chemists of the Twentieth Century. He is most famous for having synthesized cortisone; however, this was only one of his many accomplishments. In addition to his degrees from Harvard and Vienna, he received 19 honorary doctorate degrees, and nine universities have named schools and buildings after him.

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867 - 1959) Perhaps the most famous of American architects, Wright worked his way up to chief draftsman at the pioneering "Chicago School" firm of Adler and Sullivan before striking out on his own in 1893. In his studio in Oak Park, he developed the ideas that came to be known as the "Prairie School" of architecture, of which he is considered the founding father. Visitors from around the world still come to Oak Park to see his Home and Studio complex, which is on the National Register of Historic Sites. Oak Park and River Forest contain numerous examples of his public and private works.