Breaking News
Local News

Morrisons Cove Rotary Club marks century of service

By Walt Frank 6 min read

Rotary club members in the Morrisons Cove area are marking a century of community service and involvement.

The Morrisons Cove Rotary Club will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a banquet July 31 at the Morrisons Cove Memorial Park in Martinsburg.

The club was originally known as the Roaring Spring Rotary Club when it was created on July 15, 1926.

Among the original 19 members were Russell Garver, president of Roaring Spring Blank Book, A.D. Mingle, owner of the Roaring Spring Department Store, and Albert Nason, founder of Nason Hospital.

Rotary International was founded by Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905.

"This group of men were motivated to start a club here," said past president and current member Dan Hoover, grandson of Russell Garver.

Rotary International unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling humanitarian challenges around the world and creating lasting change.

Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world, according to its website.

"Rotary has always been actively seeking out things where they can invest in and improve the communities they live in. They support education, fire companies -- any organization that needs help, Rotary wants to be there to help," Hoover said.

Rotary clubs often help create others, as the Roaring Spring Rotary Club sponsored the Martinsburg Rotary Club, which was chartered Jan. 26, 1929, and the Claysburg Rotary Club, which was chartered Oct. 12, 1948.

In 2008, Roaring Spring and Martinsburg merged to create the Morrisons Cove Rotary Club, which now includes the entire Cove, Hoover said.

"Both clubs were struggling to get new members, numbers were shrinking. Roaring Spring initiated it, we met with some of their members and they were open to it. We went from two clubs with about 15 members to a club with 32 members. Their club officers agreed they wanted to join," Hoover said.

"It was a growth opportunity," said current President Greg Ritchey, who became the first person to repeat as president of the club since its founding. "Rotary to me is a vehicle that allows people to participate in service within the community."

Focus on education

Morrisons Cove Rotary Club supports numerous local organizations, including school districts in the area.

"I am personally involved in distributing dictionaries to all third grade students in the Spring Cove School District, Williamsburg Community School District and the Northern Bedford County School District," said member Chuck Gojmerac, who is executive director of Morrisons Cove Memorial Park. "Rotary is also heavily involved in recognizing nine seniors as students of the month from each of those three school districts."

The club sponsors the Northern Bedford County School District Interact Club, a student-led service organization for young people in which members organize and participate in volunteer projects, community service activities, fundraisers and school events that benefit local and global communities while developing leadership, teamwork and civic responsibility.

"Morrisons Cove Rotary provides mentorship, guidance and support to the club; helps connect students with service opportunities; and encourages members to embrace Rotary's values of service, leadership, and ethical action," said Abigail Martin, club advisor for 13 years.

Morrisons Cove Rotary Club has been a big supporter of the Garver Memorial YMCA in Roaring Spring.

"The Garver YMCA has been a recipient of the graciousness and service of the Morrisons Cove Rotary Club in many ways. Perhaps the most significant has been the guidance and support of the Rotarians as board members for the Garver Y for many, many years. The business leaders have provided direction and financial support for the programs and facilities of our local YMCA. We consider the YMCA as one of the landmarks and destination visits of Roaring Spring and the MC Rotarians have embraced that as well," said Rotary club member Scott Muthler, chairman of the YMCA board.

The Rotary club and Dragon Pride Foundation together sponsor an annual golf outing.

"Neither of us are large enough with people to hold it on our own. It has been a great partnership, lucrative for both groups. We've been doing that for a number of years, they are a great organization," said Heidi Kreider, president of the Dragon Pride Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization that acquires and distributes funds to provide opportunities for Spring Cove School District students to benefit from enhanced educational, arts and athletic programs.

Helping the community

Each year, the club sponsors Rotary Recognition Day in October, listing the participating businesses in a full page ad in the Altoona Mirror.

"We believe in investing in the communities that our customers and employees call home. Few organizations in the world do as much for local communities as Rotary Clubs. We are proud to support them and the volunteers that give so generously of their time and energy to improve their communities," said chairman/CEO Clark Stapelfeld of New Pig Corporation.

Today, the club has 20 members and it does require a time commitment.

"It is a weekly meeting. We felt the breakfast club was best," Hoover said. "We meet at 7 and people can leave at 8 to get to work. It is a good way to get the day started."

Ritchey said all Rotary clubs are welcoming new members and looking for growth opportunities.

"Anyone can join, but you want people who are motivated. The ideal thing is to get the entire club involved," Hoover said.

"We want to attract people from all generations to secure the future of the club," Ritchey said.

The Rotary Club is working on two projects in conjunction with its 100th anniversary -- a project at Spring Dam Peak and at Morrisons Cove Memorial Park

"At Spring Dam, we will put up a community clock with big faces. The base will have a place to honor all veterans from the Civil War through today. It is a big investment," Hoover said. "It will be 12 feet tall with four faces. The clock will be put up sometime in 2027."

The other project is to help fund a new roof for the Johnson Memorial Pavilion, a project with an estimated cost of $10,000, Gojmerac said.

"I cannot describe the joy that one organization wishes to help with another nonprofit," Gojmerac said.

District Governor Sean Murtagh and Hoover will be the speakers at the celebration banquet.

"One of my themes for the year is to 'Honor the Past, Celebrate the Present and Inspire the Future,' which I'll speak to at the event as we honor and celebrate the Morrisons Cove/Roaring Spring Club, and find ways to inspire future Rotarians and prospective members to continue all the great work this club has done," Murtagh said.

Mirror Staff Writer Walt Frank is at 814-946-7467.

Starting at /week.