History of the Rotary Club of Warwick, Rhode Island

A History of the Rotary Club of Warwick

'In the beginning....'

    The Rotary Club of Warwick began in 1949 when a number of Warwick businessmen were attracted by the high ideals and concepts of fellowship and community service encouraged by neighboring Rotary clubs. During the Post World War II period the city of Warwick had undergone rapid expansion and many of its leaders saw the need for an organization to encourage business development and a spirit of cooperation.  Encouraged by the Cranston Rotary Club, the Warwick Rotary Club began to emerge. Almost immediately, a provisional club was established and, with the help of the Cranston Rotary Club, the necessary 20 local businessmen signed a petition for a charter to Rotary International. Some 14 years later, Warwick Rotary would have the chance to enlarge Rotary International by sponsoring a new Rotary club in the area - the Rotary Club of East Greenwich. On July 1, 1949, the club received its Charter and held its first dinner at the Rocky Point Shore Dinner Hall for 150 persons. From the very beginning, the Warwick Rotary Club embraced all aspects of Rotary – fellowship, community service and support of Rotary International worldwide operations.

     It's not easy to summarize Warwick Rotary Club's history over the past 50 plus years. Our weekly gatherings, contributions to the community and our tales of camaraderie require pages in themselves. Our members, here and gone, deserve volumes as well for their displays of unselfishness, inspiration to others and lasting memories of those whose lives they touched.

"There's no such thing as a free lunch."

   The history of the meeting places of the Warwick Rotary Club may resemble a saga slightly less comparable to Moses' 40-year journey in the desert. The list of restaurants which have hosted Warwick Rotary Club's weekly meetings for the past 50 years is a long one, composing of several legendary sites that have passed from the scene. Through good times and bad, Warwick Rotarians have met weekly to share good fellowship, a meal (sometimes of dubious merit), conduct Rotary business and be informed or entertained by a scheduled weekly speaker.

     The Warwick Rotary Club held its initial meetings at the Great House on Post Road.  In 1950 it moved to the Tollgate Restaurant on Route 2.  Shortly after the move, however, the restaurant closed down. It is interesting to note that Warwick Rotary luncheon prices in those days was an exorbitant $1.85. After a short period, Warwick Rotary found a new home and moved its meetings to the Dreyfus Frog Farm, later known as the Holland House on Warwick Avenue. This site was the home of Warwick Rotary for the next 24 years, until 1975.

    During the next 10 years, Warwick Rotary held its luncheon meetings at Frederick's in Conimicut, Valle's on Post Road and the old Howard Johnson’s (now known as Motel 6) on Jefferson Boulevard. The termination of meetings at the Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge was sparked by increasingly innovative offerings-the last  being two chicken wings, a piece of lettuce and a fruit cup at $8 a person. Rescued from near starvation, Warwick Rotary found a more nourishing site at the former Holiday Inn at the Crossings (now the Crowne Plaza), remaining there for approximately six years. The facility was ideal for Warwick Rotary's large membership. After several years, however, the demands placed upon the hotel resulted in a nomadic status for Warwick Rotarians. Each week Warwick Rotarians wandered the corridors to find which banquet room they would be meeting. More and more often, however, the usual meeting place of Warwick Rotary was poolside in the hotels indoor swimming pool and adjacent health club facility. It was not uncommon to eat one's meal or listen to the guest speaker, while a group of bewildered hotel guests briefly entered the pool area prepared for a swim or sheepishly passed by seated Rotarians on the way to the workout room to begin their day's exercise on treadmills, bikes and weights. On occasion, a Warwick Rotarian would slip and fall in the pool for an unexpected dip. With chlorine levels increasing among Warwick Rotarians, it was necessary to find a new home for our weekly meetings.

      For a brief period in 1994- 95, Warwick Rotarians, visiting Rotarians and guests were treated to sumptuous meals at J. Wales Restaurant, now known as Legal Seafood. Culinary chefs in training at Johnson & Wales had willing test subjects to taste their creations. As news spread among the other Rotary Clubs in the area, Warwick Rotary attracted larger and larger attendance at its weekly meetings sometimes nearing or exceeding room capacity. When Legal Seafood took over the facility, Warwick Rotary moved next door to the Radisson Inn on Post Road, where Johnson & Wales students continue to ply their trade on Rotarians and guests. The Radisson continues to be Warwick Rotary’s meeting place to the present day.

 "The-buck stops here."

    Dating back to the days when Warwick Rotary met at Leo Holland's Holland House, good fellowship and, occasionally, outlandish humor has been a hallmark of Warwick Rotary meetings.  During the past five decades, Warwick Rotary has been blessed with a number of witty, imaginative and entertaining personalities, but perhaps the most acknowledged "master of ceremonies," is Warwick Rotary's own Joe DeRoches.  As a past president and now presiding master of ceremonies of Warwick Rotary's "Happy Bucks," (an institution established on the recommendation Conrad Ferla), there is not a member or guest who has been spared from Joe's rapier wit or laid low by his infamous one-liners. Joe DeRoches has not only graced the Warwick Rotary podium with his charm and wit, but has unselfishly donated his time and considerable talent to host many local and state fundraisers or special events for charitable and military service organizations. Our own 'Jolt'n  Joe "joins the pantheon of gifted Warwick Rotarians.

 'Buddy, can you spare a dime?"

    The Warwick Rotary Club may best be known for its ambitious and innovative fundraising projects. Over the years, the Warwick Rotary Club has developed a number of fundraisers - several that have become annual statewide events. These events include an annual air show at Quonset Point, now sponsored by the Rhode Island Air National Guard, the Warwick Rotary Camping and Trailer Show, held each Spring, and the May Breakfast which has been held at Kent County Hospital for the past decade. Warwick Rotary Club's initial fundraising efforts were not as large scale, well known or income producing as they are today. In fact, the club's initial fundraising projects were far more modest in scope and revenues. What has never changed among Warwick Rotarians is the tradition of participation by its members in all its fundraising and community service projects. Warwick Rotarians are "hands-on' workers who enjoy being directly involved in Rotary-sponsored projects, whether engaged in fundraising events, building a handicap ramp for a family, cleaning the highway section leading into T F Green Airport or delivering holiday baskets to families in need. Though Warwick Rotary has engaged in charitable contributions since its inception, the Club did not establish its Charitable Foundation until 1966. It is estimated that in the 50 plus years of Warwick Rotary Club's existence this year the Club has passed the $1 million mark in total charitable contributions.

    The list of beneficiaries of Warwick Rotary's charitable contributions is all-inclusive. Though it is difficult to name each and every beneficiary of Warwick Rotary funds, such a list would include Kent County Memorial Hospital Trudeau Center, Warwick Boys and Girls Club, the Kent County -Y," Kent County Visiting Nurses Association, EBC House, Insight, Warwick Museum, Warwick Historical Society, J.O.N.A.H., V.O.W.S., Channel One, D.A-R.E. Program Warwick Little League, Boy Scouts of America, Warwick Figure Skaters, to mention only a few recipients.

    On an international scale, Warwick Rotarians have been actively engaged in numerous health, education and disaster relief projects. The most ambitious project undertaken by Rotary International was the Polio Plus Program, which provides vaccinations for polio and other childhood diseases in all underdeveloped countries in the world. Since its inception, Warwick Rotary has also been a major contributor to this effort in the District. Warwick Rotary has also been an active participant through the designation of Paul Harris Fellowships that funds worldwide Rotary projects and direct fundraising contributions to the effort. In addition, Warwick Rotary has provided thousands of dollars for disaster relief efforts in the United States, Europe, the Far East, South America and Central America Working with other Rotary clubs in disaster areas, food, medical supplies, clothing, temporary housing and a host of other essentials have been collected and transported to effected areas.

 'This land was made for you and me."

    In addition to Warwick Rotary's impressive fundraising efforts to support its charitable contribution to the community, Warwick Rotarians have engaged in many other community-based projects. Warwick Rotarians teamed up with Cranston Rotary to form CUP (Clean Up Pawtuxet) and proceeded to collect and haul tons of old tires, shopping carts, rubbish  and junk of all kinds from the Pawtuxet River, near the old Ciba Geigy Chemical Company. The Pawtuxet River has remained a focus of environmental effort by the Club and was used for many years to hold its Annual Rubber Ducky Race to raise funds exclusively for environmental projects. A good portion of these funds was used to establish the Warwick Greenhouse Project to raise flowers and plants for beautification projects around the city.

 All the world’s a stage."

    Besides the international fundraising projects to eradicate illness, provide disaster relief and improve conditions in impoverished communities around the world, Warwick Rotary also actively participates in Rotary International's cultural and student exchange programs, i.e. the Group Exchange Study Program for young professionals and the Student Exchange Program whereby students attend schools in other countries. In addition to the students sponsored from this area to study around the world, Warwick Rotarians have hosted students from Spain, Chile, Mexico, Denmark, Japan and other nations. Warwick Rotary has also successively sponsored "Ambassador Scholarships' for graduate students wishing to study abroad. The competition for these multi-year scholarships (approximately $25,000 per year) is intense and Warwick Rotary is proud of its nominees who have been recipients of this scholarship fund.

    In addition to these international student programs, the Warwick Rotary Club has specifically sponsored a group of high school students to attend a summer International World Affairs Seminar  held at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater campus. This seminar brings in students from around the world to share information, cultures and obtain a better understanding of global concerns. The Warwick Rotary Club also founded Rotary Interact Clubs, aimed at introducing Rotary ideals and encouraging community service projects among high school student leaders. Rotary Interact clubs were formed at Pilgrim High School Warwick Veterans High School Hendricken and Toll Gate High School whose student members have developed a number of community-based service projects of their own. Warwick Rotary commitment to education also entails $1,500 College Scholarships to outstanding graduates in each of Warwick's four high schools and the vocational school

 'The future is now.'

    As we enter the 21st Century, there will be new challenges and new opportunities for Warwick Rotarians to serve its community, its country and the global community of nations. In the course of the past 50 plus years the Rotary Club of Warwick has achieved great success by its steadfast commitment to SERVICE ABOVE SELF Warwick Rotarians will continue to be there for Warwick's youth, the infirm, the poor, the elderly and those in need of assistance.