Eugene Rotary celebrates 100 years of service

Over its first 100 years, the Rotary Club of Eugene existed through the Great Depression, World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and other pivotal historical moments. During that time, it shaped much of what the city looks like today.

Some of the most notable projects and fundraisers it contributed to over the century include the creation of the Washington Jefferson Skatepark, the Hult Center and Cuthbert Amphitheater.

Currently, the club helps maintain many spaces that make Eugene special, such as Skinner Butte Park.

When COVID-19 vaccines first arrived in Lane County in the spring of 2021, the Rotarians stepped up to staff the area’s mass vaccination clinics. The partnership between the Rotary and the county was unique in the state.

“The vaccination clinics were one of the most rewarding projects,” club president Liz Ness said. “We had an impact on the bulk of our community, which was just incredible.”

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The Rotary’s motto is service above self. Since the Rotary Club of Eugene was founded by its first 18 members in 1923, it has worked to connect leaders in the community over that shared value.

It was the first Rotary club in Lane County and began just 18 years after the nation's first Rotary club was formed in Chicago. The Rotary Club of Eugene went on to sponsor nine other clubs in the area.

Club members boast a long list of accomplishments, including supporting a local Model United Nations, an international exchange student program, Artspark Eugene, Riverplay playgrounds and Alton Baker Park. The club also supports FOOD for Lane County, refugee families, child welfare efforts and efforts to address homelessness.

“The list just goes on and on,” Ravitej Khalsa, media director of the club, said. “I’m still just amazed by it.”

One of his favorite projects is the WJ Skatepark, which is the largest covered and lit skatepark in the nation. The project cost millions and likely wouldn’t have happened without funds raised by the Rotary.

Khalsa said it’s a thrill to see big projects get accomplished.

Rotarians' 4-way test

Ness said part of what guides Rotarians is the four-way test: Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

If someone applies to become a Rotarian, club members will call their references to make sure they believe the applicant operates with integrity. Once they’re members, they have access to a group of peers who are eager to improve the place where they live.

“Being a member of Rotary is going to allow people to find needs in the community that are important to them, and then get this incredible staff of people ready to go to work,” Ness said. “That's a huge thing.”

Applicants are evaluated based on references as well as their ability to participate and pay dues. There isn't an age requirement, but high school and college students are directed to join Interact and Rotaract. Rotary members are expected to pay $350 in fees a year.

There used to be stricter rules around club members’ attendance, hours worked and the categories of jobs members had, but these requirements have been eliminated to create a more inclusive club.

“Everybody gives (the time) they're able to,” Ness said.

A little more than 120 Rotarians currently belong to the club and organize themselves within about 20 committees that focus on local, international and internal projects. Membership has fluctuated over the years, at one point ballooning to 350 members. The more might be the merrier, but it’s not always manageable.

“You get big like that, and it becomes somewhat difficult,” Ness said.

This is when the club will split and create new clubs. The club sponsored the Grants Pass Rotary in 1924, the Springfield Rotary in 1947, the Eugene Emerald Rotary in 1967 and others as the years went on and more residents wanted to join.

Changes since 1923

Plenty has changed in the world and within the club since 1923.

For context, when the club was established, Oregon had the highest Ku Klux Klan membership per capita in the United States — and Eugene had one of Oregon’s strongest groups, according to the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. The Eugene Klan regularly marched through downtown and burned crosses on Skinner Butte.

“Looking at the era that it all started in is kind of interesting,” Khalsa said.

Rotary membership was limited to men only and members were expected to be leaders in their field. The debate over female membership amongst Rotarians around the country eventually made it to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided in 1987 that the club must allow women to join.

That year, the Rotary Club of Eugene welcomed three women. Diana Bray became the first woman president of the club in 1996.

There have been four female presidents since. Female membership is currently about 16%. Ness said women make up a lot of the club’s active and leadership roles. Now, the club is working on bringing in more diversity as well as supporting diverse causes in the city.

Ness said there are a lot of misperceptions about the club being an “old boy’s club,” a reputation she pushes back on.

“It’s really changing, which we’re excited about,” Ness said. “Our goal is to reach a point that the population of our club matches the population of the community we live in. That’s how it should be.”

Encouraging service

Rotary can be a uniting force in a polarized climate, Ness said, as the group is untethered to religious or political affiliations.

“That doesn't factor into the work we do. The focus has to be on service to the community,” Ness said. “We leave the politics at home.”

Civic engagement is another tenet of the club. They regularly host speakers who represent different sides of issues.

Some studies have demonstrated a steady decline in volunteering, giving and civic engagement among Americans since the early 2000s.

Researchers and Ness both advocate for the merits of service. While membership has been pretty steady, the club is looking to recruit younger generations of participants.

Ness said generosity and service are important for the health of the community as well as those who give it.

She described the joy she felt even after long, cold days when the club helped run the massive COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Ness said she could feel people’s gratitude and knew she was making a difference.

“That's the kind of thing that you take with you,” Ness said.

Contact reporter Tatiana Parafiniuk-Talesnick at Tatiana@registerguard.com or 541-521-7512, and follow her on Twitter @TatianaSophiaPT.

This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene Rotary celebrates 100 years of service