On June 20th, 2023, President Ann Newburger of the Rotary Club of Shippensburg (seated far right) rang the Rotary Bell for the last time at a gathering of club members and well-wishers. Effective June 30th the club will be dissolved marking 99 years of service to the Shippensburg Community and beyond. Past President Dr. Gary Davis (pictured in photo last row with tie) was Master of Ceremonies at the event quizzing the members on the history of the club. Fun facts:
- The Club was chartered April 16, 1924, with 19 members by Paul Noftsker. Currently the club has 20 members.
- Originally the club was part of District 24 and accepted a charter from the Rotary Club of Chambersburg. After redistricting by Rotary International it became part of D7390.
- The club’s last meeting was in the same building as the first meeting. That building currently houses Appalachian Brewing Company Shippensburg but in 1924 was the Morrison hotel.
- The club’s longest serving member is Bob Harper who joined the club in 1977. (Seated in photo first chair on the left.)
- The first female president of the club was Marie Davis (Behind Bob Harper in photo)
- Multiple projects have been undertaken over its history including partnering with other local organizations: Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Little League, Labor Day baseball games, Shippensburg Band, the Shippensburg Public Library, an annual Christmas theater party for children, community Christmas tree, Memorial Park improvements, a downtown tree-planting project, and Christmas lighting contests. Members were instrumental in organizing the Chamber of Commerce and the first Playground Association, which has developed into today’s Parks and Recreation Commission. The club’s early interest in handicapped children continued for years with an annual workday at Camp Harmony Hall. Other projects included a Peace Garden, extensive work with the York Rail Trail, the adopt a highway program, Four Way Test Award, Drop the Anchor event, Student Scholarship, Rotary Youth Exchange, a Polio Plus Campaign raising $22,000 for Polio eradication, and support with Mission of Mercy Dental Outreach with Dr. Gary Davis, a local dentist who is Dental Director of Ecuadent, a dental mission foundation treating poor children in Ecuador. He has been on over 25 missions!
During the gathering every member was given a Paul Harris Award noting that all 20 members had achieved Paul Harris Award status. Thank you Shippensburg Club members for your amazing service during close to a century of service. We look forward to working with many of you as fellow Rotarians as you transfer to other Rotary clubs and service organizations. You were truly People of Action. Peace, and best wishes to everyone!