2016-09-01 Meeting with RIP John Germ

 
Meeting with Rotary International President John Germ
By AG Bob Murray - RC of Sun City West
 
While this story is not about Rotary in Arizona, it is about a Rotarian in Arizona, yours truly, who had his start in Rotary in Northern Nevada.  I joined Rotary in 1994 in the Rotary Club of Sparks, Nevada.  Rotary got its start in Nevada during August of 1916.
 
Recently my wife, Barbara, and I were fortunate enough to attend the 100 year anniversary of the Rotary Club of Reno where we had our picture taken with RIP John Germ and his wife Judy.
 
The Rotary Club of Reno, Nevada was Chartered on August 1, 1916.
 
 
At the time, Nevada was the only state in the union that did not have a Rotary club.  Judge Willis Brown had been exposed to Rotary in other cities and proposed the creation of a Rotary Club in Reno in 1916.
 
Normally, an existing Rotary Club proposes the formation of another club.  In the case of the Reno Rotary Club, a group of men came together and petitioned Rotary International for a membership.
 
Judge Willis Brown had a few letter exchanges - no emails - with Rotary International and attended the Rotary International Convention in Cincinnati, Ohio.  The Rotary Club of Reno was subsequently issued its charter on August 1, 1916 and the first official meeting of the club occurred on August 9, 2016 in the Riverside Hotel.
 
On August 1, 2016 The Reno Rotary Club celebrated "A Century Of Service" at a special meeting where Rotary International President John Germ was the keynote speaker.  My wife, Barbara, and I attended that meeting.  We were able to get a picture with Rotary International President John Germ and wife Judy Germ.