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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
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 |