A century of giving: Rotary Club marks 100 years of serving Millersburg and beyond

MILLERSBURG – Attorney Max Miller has spent 40 years serving the community through the Millersburg Rotary Club.

He's the longest serving member of the organization, which turned 100 this month.

Miller has been involved with numerous projects, including serving as chairman of the Rotary Youth Exchange and secretary of the Rotary Club Scholarship and Loan Foundation.

Miller has fond memories of the club and its countless community projects and what he liked best was the opportunity to enjoy a weekly dinner with his late father, Art, who served as club president in 1971-72.

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"I joined the club in 1982," he said. "... (It) met in the evening in those days. My brother Lee joined the club many years ago also. It was always enjoyable to be in Rotary with my dad and my brother."

Millersburg Rotary Club's rich history, started in 1922

The Millersburg Rotary Club formed on June 1, 1922 and celebrated its 100th anniversary on June 1 with a dinner at  Airport Ridge Sporting Clays. Rotary District Gov. Stephan Wilder, mayor of North Canton, served as the keynote speaker, along with a presentation of a proclamation by Holmes County Commissioner Dave Hall.

Wilder shared some of his experiences as a 26-year member of the police force prior to being elected mayor of the Stark County city. He also spoke about his role in Rotary, commending Millersburg for its long and successful history.

Rotary's motto is Service above Self, according to Miller, with four avenues of service: community, club, vocational and international.

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"The club is traditionally made up of members of a variety of vocations to have the greatest reach and impact on the community," Miller said. "My dad was in the club from the 1960s until his death in 2018. He was president in 1972 when the club celebrated its 50th anniversary."

Miller noted he was president for the club's 75th anniversary and his brother, Lee, served as president during the club's 90th year.

Miller said his main role with Rotary has been with youth exchange.

"The Youth Exchange Program has existed since the late 1960s, bringing students from around the world into the county to attend both West Holmes and Hiland high schools, and has sponsored many local students going to other countries," he added. "Both inbound and outbound students stay for an entire school year, attend school locally and stay with local host families. I believe that this program expands the world view of our local students and makes a positive impact on world peace and understanding."

Club president Shasta Mast said local residents have kept the club going through its 100-year history.

"When you look back .... it's the names of people you recognize, who had the foresight to join this international service organization that really concentrates on world peace, health, clean water and things that strengthen communities across the world," Mast said."

Mast pointed out other programs and services, including a 5K and 10K run that provides funding to the international organization as well as a local charity. Some recipients include the Youth Center in Millersburg, Love INC, Crissey Memorial Pool restoration, Holmes-Wayne United Way and the Boy Scouts.

The club's first service project in 1922 raised $500 for the Ohio Crippled Children's Fund.

"We also give two scholarships a year through the Holmes County Education & Community Foundation," Mast said. "Rotary has an endowed scholarship and they gave two renewable scholarships to a West Holmes and Hiland student. We do things locally, nationally and globally."

In March and April, Millersburg Rotary raised money for the Ukraine disaster response.

Anniversary committee lauded

Rob Hovis served as chairman of the anniversary celebration. He commended the work done by the committee to put the program together.

Hovis shared history about Rotary International, which began in 1905 by Paul Harris, an attorney in Chicago.

"Harris started Rotary because he felt it would be beneficial for professionals of diverse backgrounds to exchange ideas, form meaningful friendships and to build their community by doing things as a group that they couldn't do as individuals.

"Within 16 years of being founded, there were Rotary Clubs on six continents around the world," he continued. "Today, there are 1,400,000 Rotarians throughout the world in 46,000 clubs in almost every nation on earth. Our club is proud to have supported Share-a-Christmas and several other good causes in our community."

Hovis further explained the club name came from the eight to 10 charter members who took turns rotating their meetings in the different offices where they worked, leading to the name Rotary Club.

In 1917, an endowment fund was established by the Kansas City Rotary Club, which donated $26.50. That started the Rotary Foundation, which today has more than $130 million in trusts.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Millersburg Rotary Club celebrates 100 years of community service