The Yazoo City Rotary Club is a group of volunteers who see the need to unite and take action to create a lasting change within the community. The club has met that local need for the past eight decades.
The local Rotary Club is comprised of men and women within the Yazoo business community who use their passion, energy and leadership in an assortment of causes and missions. From polio eradication to literacy promotion to youth leadership, the Yazoo civic club has remained committed to the Rotary motto: Service Above Self.
The Yazoo City Rotary Club history spans back to the 1930s when the idea of forming a local chapter took off. It was announced in July of 1937 that a Rotary Club would be established with transferring the majority of the membership of the Yazoo Civic Club, which was later disbanded to move forward with Rotary. At first, 25 applications were organized within the local Rotary chapter, and the newly-established group anticipated about ten more applications coming in prior to the official charter acceptance.
Guest speaker E.J. Ferris gave an inspiring speech to the Yazoo business leaders who were interested in bringing a Rotary chapter into the community. His commentary set the tone for the community leaders to move forward.
“As you all know the slogan of Rotary is ‘he profits most who serves best,’” Ferris said, during an initial Rotary meeting. “Therefore, all good Rotarians are constantly looking about for ways to serve profitably and helpfully their community and its people. One of the great needs today of every American community is constructive leadership and this leadership, Rotary, is fitted to furnish. The fact that you are a Rotarian indicates that you are a leader in your particular field because you were selected to represent your particulate business or profession in rotary. This stamps you as a potential leader in your community and in with it carries a challenge to leadership service.”
As the year of 1937 progressed, plans were put into motion and later set into reality. The Yazoo Civic Club would disband with practically all members transferring their membership into the Yazoo City Rotary Club. The group included major business leaders within the community from school administrators to attorneys to bankers to other professionals.
The four forms of Rotary were the foundation of the new group’s service model: Inform, Reform, Conform and Perform.
The national Rotary organization granted the charter to the Yazoo City Club in 1937 with a telephone call from the state district governor.
“A telephone call to R.J. Koonce, president of the Yazoo Rotary was received during the Wednesday luncheon from H.V. Cooper, district gov from Vicksburg,” a newspaper article reads. Cooper advised the local club that its charter had been passed on favorably by the national organization and was forwarded for a formal presentation at a later date.”
The Yazoo City Rotary Club held its first meeting in August of 1937 with 30 in attendance, and monthly dues set at $3.50 a month. In the club’s first order of business, city school superintendent R.J. Koonce was named president, V.K. Smith was selected as vice president, and H.G. Warren assumed the treasurer post.
“In its new officers, the club has excellent material and will no doubt grow and develop into a strong civic organization under their leadership,” an article said.
A Charter Night was held in September of 1937, when the local Rotary Club’s charter was formally presented. Food chairman W.M. Nelson was prepared to barbecue 100 chickens for the 200 people expected to attend. The barbecuing was done by C.D. Hull, “who was considered an expert.”
Through the decades, the local club carried its mission out with polio eradication, volunteer efforts, business summits, clean water projects and leadership development sessions. That mission continues today with much the same service projects.
The Yazoo City Rotary Club currently donates to global initiatives, sponsors a local youth Interact Club at Manchester Academy, promotes literacy at a local daycare facility, holds library card drives and assists with other local volunteer efforts.
The local Rotarians are community-builders, people of action and problem-solvers. And the club is always looking to welcome new members. Potential members are considered to strengthen the club’s connections and commitment to the Yazoo community. Becoming a Rotarian connects members with a diverse group of professionals who want to give back. Through regular meetings and events, members will develop ways to meet the community’s needs, connect with other business professionals and make new friends in the process.
Rotarians within Yazoo are people of action. They are servers above all else. They are looking for others to share that vision. And with over 80 years of history within Yazoo, they have the legacy to prove it.
