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The Rotary Club of Grand Falls
(An Overview)
Rotary International came to Grand Falls in 1969 when two members of the Corner Brook club, Jim Noseworthy and Ray Cole, were transferred here by their respective companies. They missed the fellowship of Rotary and were successful in recruiting a number of local businessmen and professionals with a view to forming a club in this community. Rotary’s District Governor of the day, J.A. Wilkinson, appointed as his special representative, the President of the Corner Brook club, Mr. George Penney (a former resident of Grand Falls) and the new club received its charter on February 13, 1970.
Membership fluctuates around 25-30 members. We still have two charter members, Ray Cole and Frank Howard. There have been at least five father-son members over the years. In 1982-83, the Club hosted the District Governor, for that year, our past president Terry Goodyear. Women were welcomed into our ranks in 1985.
The Club is a pretty typical Rotary Club. We follow the four avenues of service and practice acquaintance as an opportunity for service. Our motto is “Service above Self”.
We share good fellowship at the weekly meetings, including visitors from other clubs. We have close to 100 club banners from all over the world. We have enjoyed student, study or fellowship exchanges from every continent.
We support the Rotary International Foundation with its ongoing work. The awarding of 21 Paul Harris Fellowship to worthy individuals and special projects, e.g. Polio Eradication (1984) and Tsunami Relief Effort (2005) are part of this effort.
A distinctive of the club is the forging of strong partnerships. Club members often do double duty with other volunteer activities. This has afforded the Club leverage to make the most of our efforts. Our relationship with the Exploits River Management Association;
the Corduroy Brook Enhancement Association (http://corduroybrook.org/),
the South and Central Health Foundation (http://www.cwhc.nl.ca/schf_home.htm),
the Bell-Cantos (youth choir),
the Ronald MacDonald House (www.ronaldmcdonaldhouse.ca),
the Rotary Club of Ottawa (www.rotaryottawa.com/adventure.htm),
the local Men’s Christian Association- YMCA (www.grandfallswindsor.com/ymca) and
the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor (www.grandfallswindsor.com) have been especially productive.
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