By Tom Renner
The Rotary Club of South Haven marked its 70th year of service to the community and beyond with an anniversary celebration on Friday, May 1. The club was chartered in February, 1956 with an initial membership of 25, all men. Today the club’s roll totals 65 men and women.
The City of South Haven, through a resolution, commended the club for exemplifying the core values of Rotary International by fostering fellowship, promoting integrity and advancing goodwill and peace throughout the community and beyond.
To recognize this milestone, the club honored five members who have collectively served 196 years. Pictured (standing left) with President-Elect Bob Metzen and President Amy Nichols, Robert Copping (seated), member since 1994, Tom Ruesink (1995), Larry Wittkop (1974) and Ted Weber (1987) who received the club’s first Lifetime Achievement Award. Honoree Tom Fleming (1994) is not pictured.
The club also marked its commitment to Rotary International’s work through its Paul Harris Fellowship program. Sixteen members are new Paul Harris Fellows and another 22 advanced their support of the program. Since its founding the South Haven club has had 105 members designated Paul Harris Fellows with contributions to Rotary International totaling more than one-half a million dollars.
Five members also were recognized for their support of Rotary International’s Polio Plus program — Jordan Alsup, Brook Blanchard, Robert Boerma, Robin McGonnis and the late Jeff Wilhelm.
