Los Banos Rotary Club History
Rotary Clubs Fete 50th Anniversary

Rotary Clubs throughout the world—8,418 clubs in 89 countries—are this week commemorating the 50th anniversary of the founding of Rotary International. It was just 50 years ago that Paul Harris, a young Chicago attorney, conceived the idea of Rotary, and organized the first club from his friends and business acquaintances. The name came from the custom of rotating the meetings, among the members' places of business.

Today, as 50 years ago, Rotary clubs are formed on a voluntary basis, organized and indoctrinated by another club, and with a program and purpose geared to local service that can be shared by others.
The first Rotary Club to be formed in California was the San Francisco club, organized in 1908, and Rotary became International two years later with the organization of a club at Winnipeg, Canada.

Los Banos joined the ranks of Rotary in June, 1940, to become the 5,248th club. The local club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fresno, with District Governor Howard Kirkland of San Luis Obispo handling charter night ceremonies. There were 38 charter members of the Los Banos club, of which 12 still belong to the club. Dr. George Pimentel was the first president of the Los Banos Club. Succeeding presidents include Robert Puccinelli, L. J. Spindt, R. M. Miano, Gilbert Elliott, Charles Kaljian, Bert Loosmore, Rudolph Lindemann, F. E. Buck, M. D "Buck" Wheat, Louie Castellucci, Wm. Woo, Frank Peluso, Kenneth Anderson and the current president, Jess Telles.
One of the local club's first major projects was to interest the business men of Dos Palos in Rotary, and in 1941 the Los Banos club sponsored the institution of the Dos Palos rotary Club. During the 15 years of Rotary in Los Banos the club has participated in a great number of community projects, and maintain several annual projects of community benefit.

One of their pet projects has been the Christmas party for the youngsters of the community, which started first as a Christmas charity project for needy families, then moved to the Kiddies' Party with programs and Christmas gifts distributed at the local grammar schools. Some years later this was changed to a theatre party, in cooperation with the owners and management of the local theatre. For the past three years more than 1400 youngsters have been entertained at this annual party.

The Christmas Party is but one of several projects benefiting the youth of the community. Each year the club honors the high school football team at a dinner, with the Lions Club and 20-30 Club cooperating. This project was started by the old Cosmic Club, predecessor of Rotary, and has been continued each year with preminent college and university coaches attending as guest speakers. Among them have been "Pappy" Waldorf of California University; "Chuck" Taylor of Stanford; and James Bradshaw of Fresno State College.

The club also cooperates with the Lions Club in their annual baseball dinner for the high school team.

Another project that has proved exceptionally popular with the high school students is the annual barbecue dinner for junior exhibitors at the Spring Fair and Livestock Show. Started in 1946, the dinner has increased in popularity with the years and is an event eagerly anticipated by the junior exhibitors each year.

The club also sponsors Boy Scout Troop 85, a project which originated with the old Cosmic Club and has been since continued by Rotary.
In addition to its annual projects the club has through the years sponsored a number of momentary projects, and members of the club have participated actively in the Red Cross, Community Chest, Salvation Army and other charity drives conducted in the community.

Within Rotary itself, the Los Banos Club has achieved quite a record of visiting other clubs and as hosts to club members from other cities and countries. There is seldom a meeting of the local group without visitors from one or more neighboring cities, and Los Banos members are well represented at meetings of numerous other clubs in the valley. In addition, local club members have visited clubs as far away as Mexico, Peru, Italy, and in Hong Kong, China.

February 25, 1955

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