In 1905, Montague Bear, a designer and engraver, joined the Rotary Club of Chicago and was asked to design an emblem for the new organization. He produced a simple design of a buggy wheel, representing civilization and movement.

 

In 1919, the wheel was officially adopted by Rotary.  In 1922, it was decided that all Rotary clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the present gear wheel, with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted by the "Rotary International Association."

 

A group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a "keyway" in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft, making it a “worker” rather than an “idler” wheel. So, in 1923 the keyway was added and the design, which we now know, was formally adopted as the official Rotary International emblem.

 

An official description of the emblem was adopted at the 1929 International Convention. Royal blue and gold were chosen as the official Rotary colors and the flag of Rotary was designated as a white field with the emblem emblazoned in its center. The emblem, worn as a lapel pin, now identifies Rotarians around the world. 

 

It has been suggested that the official Rotary colors of royal blue and gold can be explained as the blue represents the sea and sky; the gold possibly the earth and sun.

 

 

President Samantha Maruzzelli brought the meeting to order at 12:15 PM at Purkey’s Pink Apple with John Proctor reciting the 4-Way Test and leading the Pledge of Allegiance and Dave Wilson giving the Invocation.

 

 

 

Interact has 9 seniors graduating. This week they had their last meeting for school year and elected new officers.  They made a $300 donation to Rise Against Hunger. They had a great year.

 

Our exchange student Vittorio was in the prom court.  He is also playing in a singles tennis match at District today.

 

 

 

We need book donations for the mini-libraries.  Library Director Kristin Smith-Gary will give us some books from the library that they are giving away so we can stock the library by the Dietrich Theater and Creekside Gardens.  Soon the additional mini-libraries will be erected now that the ground has thawed.

 

 

Pres. Sam was contacted about the Fran Turner Testimonial that will take place on Oct 13 at the Triton. They want us to be involved.  (Note, it is the same day as our Festival.) It will cost $15 per person.

 

 

Max, the community service dog whose training we sponsor, attended the special Olympics with Rich. The kids took pictures with Max and Max was asked to walk in one of the athletes with the Olympic torch.  Rich & Max accepted the Rotary plaque for sponsorship of the event.

 

 

On May 25 at 1:45 PM, 200 5^th graders will graduate from D.A.R.E.  Max has been at D.A.R.E. classes and the kids love to have her there.  She can find drugs and other things. They will go outside, the D.A.R.E. mentors take off their shoes and then they go hide. Max smells their shoes and she then finds them in their hiding places. 

 

During the graduation there will be a slide show presentation at the graduation and all the students will be wearing the t-shirts sponsored by our Rotary Club.  There is also a $100 Rotary prize that will be given to the essay contest winner, who will read their essay.

 

Carol will send out a notice to Bob Baker re the D.A.R.E. graduation.

 

 

Northeast Title and Tag will have their grand reopening tomorrow and all Rotarians are invited.  There will be free lunch at noon and some give aways.

 

 

Pes. Samantha presented a Paul Harris 1+ pin to Jim Welch.

 

Jim Welch receiving his Paul Harris pin from Pres. Samantha

 

 

The EMS, PA State Police car crash simulation went well at the high school.  Rich Seaberg said the kids were talking about it for days afterwards. They believe it help in achieving no incidences at the Prom. 

 

Tom also mentioned the new thing people are doing to get high. They are inhaling Ultra duster industrial strength. It causes an instantaneous high that leaves in 5-6 hr with no drug trace but can cause death.

 

 

Tunkhannock Rotary will once more contribute money to the graduation night lock-in.

 

 

Ron has received 50 white pine trees.  This was a smaller number than he has received previously. For anyone interested in helping, there will be a planting party on Sunday May 27 at 1 PM at Ron’s place. Ron will send out a notice with instructions to his house.

 

Our next Meeting will be Thursday, May 22. Our guest speakers will be Tunkhannock Ambulance Assoc. with QCPR Dummies and the Tunkhannock Tree Association who will update us on the trees planted for our Rotarian veterans.

 

President Samantha Maruzzelli adjourned the meeting at 1:30 PM.

 

Norm recently received a bronze star for his efforts in WWII.  His son in law is interested in WW2 history and he contacted the War Dept and they realized that they had never given him the bronze star he earned in WWII. Norm wore his military shirt from the war, which still fit him beautifully with all his medals, including his bronze star.

 

Norm grew up in Amish country and was drafted in 1944 as an 18 yr old farm kid. He had never been more the 10 mi from the farm.  He had wanted to join the army, but his father did not want him to join, however, he got drafted. He had to report to the Wilkes-Barre courthouse. They were told to took off all their clothes and put them into a bag for their medical exam. When they passed the medical exam, they were told to put their clothes back on.  They then went to Indian Town Gap where they got uniforms and their personal clothes were sent home.  He went to Fort McClellan Alabama for 14 weeks of concentrated rifleman and war training.

 

Before shipping out, he had 10 days at home, then got on the Queen Mary, crossed to England and then to the war line in France.

 

Soldiers could be on the front line for as much as 4 weeks with no sleep, very cold and not good conditions. His Captain noticed that he could speak PA Dutch German and asked him to be his company runner.

 

They were called to support another unit that needed help and they were fired upon from a hill of Germans. Captain told Norm to stick with the sergeant. He followed the sergeant up the hill to see where the Germans were.  Norm carried a wood walkie-talkie box. They got almost to the top and the sergeant took a bullet to the head. 

 

Norm went back to the Captain and reported to what had happened.  He was then assigned to someone else, who also got shot under the eye and was not expected to live.

 

The Captain recalled him and told him that they needed help and that he knew where the heavy weapons company was nearby.  He sent Norm to go get them, but he came to an intersection and did not remember which road the Captain had told him to take. He went the way he thought best, found them and explained they needed help.  He then went back to the captain and he was greeted by the Captain with a handshake and a hug, which was very, very unusual. The actual direction the Captain had given him would have taken him right into a German unit. Norm took the wrong road, but it was actually the right road. The Captain got killed right there. So Norm saved his unit by taking the wrong road, rather than the road his Captain had told him to take.

 

After the war, the 87^th division started to hold reunions. Eventually, Norm and his wife went to one of them. At the reunion, he surprisingly ran into the guy that he was next too that was shot below the eye and was not expected to live. He had lost his eyesight and hearing where he was shot, but he had miraculously survived that shooting.

 

Norm Werkheiser