Home

Meeting Time
& Location

Yearly Activities
Rotary Calendar
Scholarships
Speaker List
Dictionary Project
Rotator Newletters

History of Our Club

Officers

All About Rotary:
Definition of Rotary
A Brief History
4-Way Test
The Rotary Emblem
Becoming a Rotarian
Classifications
The Founder of Rotary
Rotary International

Member Directory

Web Info

History of the Rotary Club of the Westbank
Distinguished Members

In February of 1936, Dr. John Atkinson, Frank Duvic, Numa Olivier and George Rittner, a former member of the Rotary Club of Hammond, La., held the first of several meetings to discuss the possibility of forming a Rotary Club for the West Bank Area.

Andres Horcastis, then President of the New Orleans Rotary Club, was also interested in the West Bank as potential territory for a new Club, and he explored the Area with them. Following the meetings and survey it was decided that the area could and should support a new Club.

Horcastis appointed Thomas Gannett, of the New Orleans Club, to work with the interested group of civic leaders. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Charles Gelbke and Charles Rotolo joined them. Gannett devoted considerable time to assisting these pioneers and in a few weeks the necessary number of members was acquired for the charter application.

On June 2, 1936, the first meeting of the Rotary Club of the West Bank was held in Brunies Restaurant at Second and Newton Streets in Gretna, with 21 charter members present. Officers elected were Dr. Atkinson, President; Fluery, Vice-President; Duvic, Secretary; and Smith, Nicholson, Rotolo and Dr. Wood Directors.

The Club met weekly for luncheon, the price of which was 35 cents. The new organization operated under a provisional charter until its charter was received July 7, 1936.

The Club met weekly at Brunies until 1948 when President Ted Wilson made arrangements for the ladies of the Gretna Methodist Church to prepare and serve the luncheon each week in the Social Center of the Church. This arrangement still is in effect, although much has transpired, including the destruction of the Church by fire, rebuilding and eventually construction of the modern plant occupied today.

Over the years, the members of the Rotary Club of the West Bank have deeply appreciated the excellent meals they have been served and the dedication of the church personnel who give their time and labor for the benefit of their organization without personal remuneration. Rotarians throughout the area have proclaimed the food served at our meetings as "the best".

A fire that destroyed the Club’s meeting place in 1955. All records of the Club, including the Charter were lost. Only the luncheon bell was recovered for the smoldering ruins by deceased Past President Al Fitzpatrick who lived a short distance from the Church. Although the bell was out of shape and appeared a total loss, it was sent back to the factory and recast, given a new Rotary emblem and a new stand. It is the same one we use to this day. The names and year of service of our Past Presidents are engraved on the bell. It and the original President’s Pin, which has been worn by all of our Presidents, are the only possessions of the Club that date to its founding.

The fire left the Club without a meeting place for a brief period. The Salem Social Club of the Salem Lutheran Church graciously offered their facilities and meeting place, and our Club met there until returning to the rebuilt Gretna Methodist Church and Social Center at the same site, 1101 Monroe Street in 1956. The Club met there until 1977, when we moved with the Church to our present location on Whitney Avenue.

The Rotary principle of "Service Above Self" has been demonstrated in many ways since the Club’s inception. The Club itself and individual members have distinguished themselves in activities intended for the betterment of the West Bank, the Country and the World.

In addition, to active participation in world-wide activities through the Rotary Foundation, the Club sponsors high school students attending Pelican Boy’s and Girl’s State, presents an annual Civic Award to an Outstanding West Bank person, supports the Westbank Boy’s Club and provides annual college scholarships for West Bank students, as well as a Rotary scholarship at Our Lady of Holy Cross College.

Through the Rotary Club of the Westbank, multiple miscellaneous charitable and community activities are undertaken in response to changing needs. Charitable activities are financed through the Rotary Club of the Westbank Foundation, modeled after the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.