Knoxville Rotary

Founded in 1915, the Rotary Club of Knoxville is the community's oldest service organization and with 225 members is one of the largest Rotary Clubs in the world. Half of East Tennessee's Rotary clubs can trace their lineage back to RCK.

The club's earliest members included several of the visionaries responsible for the concept of our nation's most visited national park. In 1923, RCK member Willis Davis and his wife returned from visiting national parks in the Western U.S. asking "why not have a park in our mountains?" This idea inspired Col. David C. Chapman, the club's first president, and several other Knoxville Rotarians to create the Great Smoky Mountains Conservation Association, which had a significant influence in the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Throughout the last century and into the new millennium RCK continues supporting the Park with projects such as a trail for handicapped visitors, a wildlife display at the Sugarlands Visitors Center, an information display on Mt. LeConte and improvements to Alum Cave Trail. In early 2007, RCK will unveil its Recognition Wall project at Sugarlands honoring those who have contributed to the Park over the past seven decades.

But the Park has not been the only beneficiary of the enthusiasm and generosity of RCK's members.

Community Service: in the early years, the club helped to organize a band at Old Knoxville High, sponsored playgrounds, boys camps and even encouraged pork production during WW I through the "Pig and Corn Club."

Higher Education: The Rotary Foundation of Knoxville, begun in 1923, has helped 550 local students to achieve their educational goals through awarding low-interest loans. Every year since 1996, the Foundation has given a $12,000 scholarship to a deserving Knox County high school senior.

Other Activities: These include Junior Achievement, 4-H Clubs, Lakeshore Mental Health Institute, East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Boys and Girls Club of Knoxville, Character Counts, John Tarleton Home For Children, Habitat for Humanity, Helen Ross-McNabb Center, the Salvation Army, Tennessee School For the Deaf, YMCA Day Care Scholarships, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and Teacher Recognition Awards.

RCK also sponsors Welcome Picnics for International Students at the University of Tennessee and Pellissippi State Community College each year. An additional and very important youth -oriented activity is sponsorship of the Interact Club at Knoxville Catholic High School.

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

Since the mid-90's RCK's influence has reached beyond the borders of the U.S. Our Hungarian Connection began in 1995 with the establishment of a "Twin Club" partnership with the Mateszalka Rotary Club, one of several newly minted Hungarian clubs filled with enthusiasm over the country's status as a bourgeoning democracy. Our two clubs have been involved with renovation of Camp Tridea, a special place for underprivileged children, orphans and refugees in Northeast Hungary. Among other efforts, we have sponsored two overseas bicycle tours to raise funds for the camp and for an orphanage in Mateszalka. Currently we are helping establish playgrounds in poorer sections of the city.

In 2006, RCK began working with the Rotary Club of Knysna, South Africa to help with needs identified there including partial financing of a mini-van to transport needy students. The club sponsored travel grants for Interact students to visit the Knysna area.

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL WORLD SERVICE

RCK members have been very generous in supporting the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International which provides resources for key international service programs. Every past president of RCK has been named as a "Paul Harris Fellow" through a contribution of $1,000 to the Foundation. In 2005-06, the club contributed $135 per capita to the Rotary Foundation of RI and was recognized as a STAR club.

Polio Plus

For all Rotarians, the most far-reaching service effort is Polio Plus begun by RI in 1985 to protect the children of the world from the crippling and fatal effects of polio. During the next few years, Rotarians can look forward to total eradication of this devastating disease. So far, RCK members have given $115,000 to the Polio Plus Campaign.

Centennial Project

Together with five other Knoxville area clubs, RCK raised $100,000 to underwrite a bronze sculpture created by Hungarian sculptor Lajos Biro commemorating Rotary's ongoing commitment to the world's children through the eradication of polio. The 2005 dedication of the sculpture in downtown Knoxville drew RI's president as well as several other international dignitaries.

OUR MEMBERS AND THE FUTURE

RCK currently has 225 members devoted to the Rotary ideals of Service as well as Building Good Will and Peace in the World. The club has been the home club of 10 Rotary district Governors including PDG Walter T. Pulliam, 1972-73, PDG Arthur V. Clancy, Jr., 1989-90 and PDG John W. Bailey, Jr., 2004-05. The late Charles H. Miller served as District Governor in 1960-61 and went on to serve as a Director of RI 1966-68 and for two terms as a trustee of the Rotary Foundation.

RCK is proud to have been part of RI for 90 of its 100 years. All members of the club as well as the Rotary Foundation of Knoxville look forward to continuing that tradition of service into Rotary's second century. In addition, the Rotary Club of Knoxville eagerly anticipates it's 100th anniversary. The best is yet to come!

2010-2011 Rotary Year

Pre-Meeting Presentation