The Rotary Club of Amarillo History - 1990 to 1999

The club maintained its membership at slightly above 200 and during the year added four members to the Paul Harris Fellowship, bringing the total number of Paul Harris Fellows to 91 from The Rotary Club of Amarillo.  Also honored were 22 members who have over 40 years of service to Rotary, the longest service being Dr. B. C. Graves with 67 years.  Additionally, the club gave special recognition to four local veterans of Operation Desert Storm. 

The year was characterized with outstanding programs under the leadership of Program Chairman Jerry Shelby. Notable speakers were U.S. Congressman Bill Sarpaulius, 13th Congressional District of Texas;    Dr. Hans Mark, Chancellor of the University of Texas System;   Dr. Barry Thompson, recently appointed 8th President of WTSU; State Representative John Smithee of Amarillo; Margaret Harper, founder of the musical drama "Texas," which is in its 26th year of performance at Palo Duro Canyon Amphitheater; and Rotary District 573 Governor Bill Hubbs of Pecos, Texas. 

Bill Esler became the club's 75th president on July 11, 1991 for the 1991-92 year. Bill urged the members as a group to be active in the community by supporting activities providing guidance to the youth of the community and furthering the principles of Rotary.  The club gave strong support to the Boy Scouts of America, Cal Farley's Boys Ranch Christmas Fund, The Salvation Army and completed its commitment to PolioPlus by contributing $30,000 to the Rotary National Campaign. 

J. B. Lane chaired ART LXXXXI, held in the Panhandle Plains Historical Museum as a community service.  It was one of the most highly attended shows in the eight year history of the event.  Walter Johnson and Bob Russell continued their leadership and the club's support of Camp RYLA.   Wheels took a new look and feel with appointment of three editors, Walter Johnson to maintain our humor, Kathy Cornett our integrity and Mike Matteo our decorum. 

Our membership was maintained at two hundred and we added three new Paul Harris Fellows.  Program chairman Ed Fancher brought us many good programs from agency executive and association leaders concerning leadership to improve the social environment in Amarillo and the Panhandle of Texas.  We enjoyed a dinner and a summer outing with our spouses. 

Our club was pleased to work with District Governor Dr. Jim Cook in bringing the District Conference to Amarillo for the first time since Wayne Sturdivant was governor in 1978-79. 

In 1992-93 Coney Burgess became The Rotary Club of Amarillo's 76th President.   During this year the club vigorously searched for ways in which to more effectively raise funds and better serve the community.  It was decided and voted upon by the Club that the focus would be director towards education for the youth.   The Club decided to raise additional funds by concentrating on a Catfish and Shrimp Dinner with the public being invited.  The additional funds raised would be used to fund educational agendas.   Those agendas were mainly the "KACV-TV Sesame Street Project" and "Caprock High School - The School Within a School."

The Club added 20 new members to its membership roster.  Active support of Cal Farley's Boys Ranch and Girlstown, USA and Camp RYLA for both boys and girls were maintained.  Five new Paul Harris Fellows were added to the Club.  The Club was a 100% contributor to the Arch Klump Award Project (A function of Rotary International) having contributed $7,524.00. A Christmas party for the Club members was held in the home of President Burgess.

The 77th President of The Rotary Club of Amarillo was Kenneth G. Abbott who served in 1993-94. Organization, preparation, awareness, service above self and follow through marked the way of our Club.  Early meetings with younger Rotarians and then with past presidents set the tone for the year to come.  The year got off  to a good start with an idea for a club project designed to achieve the desires of our club and provide to the community an avenue for unprecedented funds. From the rebirth of our fireside meetings to the organization of our new member program we all began to sense the meaning of Rotary.   Our four-way test each week gave way to the very interesting presentations with the grand finale being done in Mila Gibson's own operatic version which brought down the house.  Without hesitation over 90% of our Rotarians who were able to work participated in the first annual Amarillo Rotary Shrimp and Catfish Roundup, making it the most successful fund-raising event in our Rotary history, raising over $20,000 for our Sesame Street and Caprock programs.  You see when all are aware and have a goal and desire to serve there is nothing too large for our great club.

Paul Borchardt became the Rotary Club of Amarillo's 78th president and pushed the Rotary theme for 1994-95 of "Be a Friend."  Rotary decals were handed out any time a Rotary member did a good deed to promote the theme.  Noon meetings were always to capacity, and everyone had a good time promoting the theme.  Before Christmas every member had decals on their cars and businesses; some even had multiples.   Paige Carruth implemented the "Red Badge" program for new members.  The program was very successful in getting new members to understand Rotary and become more involved.   Fireside meetings were well attended as were district functions due to the "Red Badge" requirements.   Many clubs in the district and nation inquired and took the basics of the program. 

The Shrimp and Catfish Roundup was even more successful during its second year of operation. Over $25,000 was raised for designated organizations.   Spouses nights, held at Christmas and Valentines with gourmet dinners at the Amarillo Club, were very successful;  and attendance was over reservations, even on a cold snowy night.  Success comes when you extend the hand of "Be a Friend" and practice the Four-way Test. 

Clayton Knapp, the 79th president during 1995-96, brought back from the International Convention the challenge made by Herb Brown, International President, for each Rotarians to bring one new member into the Club during the year.  Twenty-one new members were brought into the Club during the year through this effort.   New member orientation through fireside meetings held in the homes of former presidents was successfully continued.   A successful Christmas party was held at Clayton Knapp's home followed later in the year by a Spouse's Night Valentine's party at the Amarillo Club.  Our Club entertained twenty-one visitors from New Zealand with the Rotary Friendship Exchange.   Several of our Club members visited New Zealand later in the year.  It was planned that this year's Shrimp and Catfish Roundup wold earn $20,000, however we were able to contribute $30,000 to the community service projects chosen:  Ace, The Children's Home, and Casa.  Twelve Paul Harris Fellows were awareded under the Club's regular matching program.   A new program was begun by the Club Directos taking advantage of the "undesignated" funds credited to our club by the Rotary Foundation reslulting in fifty-one new Paul Harris Fellows for this year.  We were fortunate that our District Governor was Doyle Moore. He is a past president  of the club and his wife Doris is a member.  The year was concluded with a party featuring new members at Wonderland Park and there was a big turn-out for the event by all members of the Club. Other Rotary activities that the Club was involved in during the year included the Diabetic Camp, the Mentor   Program under Vocational Service, Boys Ranch, and a continuation of the "Hold Up" program.   Rotary activities have involved ninety-eight percent of our memvbershhip throughout the year.   This year's motto "Act with Integrity, Give with Love, Work for Peace" was ephasized all year with a large banner and the giving of pins. 

Contagious enthusiasm and an unstoppable positive attitude marked the administration of 80th president, Joe K. Howell, 1996-1997.   With a goal of sustaining The Rotary Club of Amarillo well into the next century, he worked to build our club with "Action and Vision."

Because members are Rotary's most important asset, they became the year's primary focus; and services included membership development, program development, and administration restructuring.   Membership development accomplishments included:

a. Adding 21 new members through the efforts of the Membership Development Committee; 

b. Honoring new members at Wonderland Park Night with generations of families enjoying food,        fellowship, and fun; 

c. Sending a large encouragement banner signed by the membership to seriously ill Rotarians; 

d. Recognizing Rotarian's birthdays at the re-instated Birthday Table; and

e. Honoring as Paul Harris Fellows, 13 Rotarians who took advantage of an incentive program, utilizing a credit balance with the Rotary Foundation. 

Program development balanced service, education, and fun.  Accomplishments in this area included:

a. Adding several non-serious meetings that were simply fun, to a traditional calendar of interesting and informative meetings; 

b. Increasing support for the Shrimp & Catfish fund raiser which netted $40,000: (1) $30,000 for four programs in the 79107 zip code area providing $7,500 grants for Opportunity School, Family Support Services FAST program at Whittier Elementary School, Amarillo Arts: An Alternative; and the ACE Scholarship Program for students at Palo Duro High School and (2) $10,000 held in reserve for future needs; 

c. Augmenting support of the Paul Harris Fellows program with three innovative programs: (1) recruiting new fellows, (2) the gourmet dinner PHAB FORE (initiated by Paige Carruth and hosted by Hazel and Ross Wilson,) and (3) a weekly cad drawing for a portion of monies accumulated from $1 ticket sales, the balance of which went to the Rotary Foundation; 

d. Continuing support for Camp RYLA, the Diabetic Camp, the Boys Ranch Christmas fund, and the Eveline Rivers Christmas Project;

e. Participating in the Rotary Friendship Exchange with several members traveling to Scotland and hosting British visitor with other District Rotary clubs; 

f. Hosting Himena Lopez, an exchange student from Argentina for the academic year; and 

g. Sponsoring Amarillo Tascosa High School student Will Morton to the Netherlands. 

Continuous quality improvement was the byword in restructuring the administrative office.   Gina Brown, new executive secretary and Betty Schmidt, her assistant, helped make the following accomplishments possible:

a. Establishing regular office hours;

b. Expanding and improving part-time staffing under new personnel policies and procedures; 

c. Evaluating workflow through the office; 

d. Organizing records for increased efficiency and providing a back-up system for the computer; 

e. Changing member billings from quarterly to monthly; 

f. Establishing a membership database and including birth dates and E-Mail addresses

g. Updating the Rotary Roster and changing from a booklet to a binder format. 

With a fine eye for detail and a mind like a steel trap, our 81st president Morris G. ("numbers man") Moreland, set about the business of fine tuning the club's infrastructure in 1997-1998. Through his leadership The Rotary Club of Amarillo maintained a firm foundation on which to continue operation. As Morris led his club members this year significant goals were reached.  The operating budget was clarified and fine tuned.  Through the efforts of the Board of Directors the Constitution and Bylaws were completely restated and adopted. The archives of the club, which date back to 1917 were preserved for posterity through the purchase of a fireproof file for the office. 

Since new members were recognized as the future of the club, the process by which new members were selected was clarified and refined.  As a result of member enthusiasm and zeal, 28 new members was added to our club. Visual aids were secured for new member orientation "Fireside" meetings, which enjoyed record attendance. 

Under Morris' watchful eye, and with his encouragement, club projects flourished and members "Showed Rotary Cares". Highlights of the 1997-1998 year included:

Shrimp & Catfish Event	$38,000
Rotary Foundation	16,680
RYLA Youth Camp Scholarships	4,170
Diabetic Camp Scholarships	1,200
Mentor Program	1,172
Boy's Ranch	1,190
Eveline Rivers Christmas Project	810
Essay Contest - 4 Way Test	193
3 Scholarships granted through     the Amarillo College Foundation	600