The Founding of Rotary Club 13

On an April Sunday morning in 1910, Bruno Batt, a piano dealer of St. Louis, and Dr. Archie A. Johnson, a Kansas City physician, were together socially at the home of a mutual friend in Kansas City. In due time the conversation turned to a new type of business club which had taken hold in 12 large American cities.

“This new organization,” explained Mr. Batt, “is confined to one member from a business or profession and is based on the philosophy that members would dedicate themselves to creating attitudes of thoughtfulness and helpfulness to each other, and hopefully making new friends.”

The name “Rotary Club” was adopted because meetings were rotated in offices and plants of the various members.

The phrase “trade reciprocity” shows in early objectives but the words and the thought were dropped some time later.

In a few weeks, Dr. Johnson was asked to take the initiative in forming a Rotary Club in Kansas City. There is no known record from whom or from where the request came. It was possibly from Mr. Batt, who was president of the St. Louis Rotary Club, or from an official of the “Mother Chapter” in Chicago to whom the few other Rotary Clubs were turning for guidance.

Dr. Johnson talked over the possibilities with Lee B. Mettler, local manager of the Pittsburg Water Heater Company. The two met a few days later with Daniel Bird, an attorney, and Otto Wittman, a dealer in automobile supplies. The four men decided to proceed with the organization of a Rotary Club in Kansas City. Now needing official leadership for organizational purposes, the quartet elected these the first officers of our Rotary club . . . making it “Club 13.”

PRESIDENT-Lee B. Mettler
VICE PRESIDENT-Dr. A. A. Johnson
TREASURER-Daniel E. Bird
SECRETARY-Otto Wittman

Solicitation of members started at once. Dues were $4 a year and meetings were in the form of luncheons held at the Elks Club at Seventh and Walnut. A basic tenet was that no one should be addressed as “mister.” Violaters would be fined 25 cents. There is inconclusive indication that an initiation fee of $1 prevailed.

Within several weeks 57 had signed up to be members. A 1910 roster on file in the club’s office lists their names, and they may be presumed to be charter members. Classifications naturally totalled 57.

The first luncheon of the 57 was held May 16, 1910, and that date has been considered the birthdate of Club 13.

In 90 days, the membership had increased to 200, dues had been raised to $10 a year, the price of luncheons was advanced to 75 cents and the Dixon Hotel was now the meeting place. Members paid for their food at each luncheon, a procedure later changed.

Charles S. Stevenson