About the Rotary Club of Cheshire

The Rotary Club of Cheshire was chartered October 29, 1939 and was numbered "Club #5128." It is now #6714 and is part of District 7980.

It is estimated that as of January 1, 2004, 467 different persons have been members of

the Cheshire club. For more than forty years the Club as met at Waverly

(Inn/Tavern/Restaurant). These days it meets alternately for lunch/dinner 12:00

noon and 6:30 PM. on Thursdays. (Call (203) 272-5998)

Chartered with 15 members, the club grew to 65 during the Presidencies of Richard J. Ulbrich and Kenneth W. Hall, 1973-1975. Presently, membership is 36, with four designated as Honorary, and five of the very active are women. Two women, Jane Guarnieri (1994-95) and Ann Wrege (1997-98) have served as President.

Three Cheshire Rotarians have served as District Governor: 1959-60 Arnold H. Schroeder; 1970-71, Richard H. Miller; and 1980-81, Bernhardt W. Erk, Jr.

Funds are raised generally through two well established annual public events. A Fall Rose Sale by delivering presold boxed, cut roses supplied by Rotarian Pinchbeck Rose Grower in Branford for thirty years, and an annual Palm Sunday morning Pancake Breakfast at the local St. Bridget's Catholic Parish House, which has been going on for 34 years. Occasional other fund raisers are

tackled for the benefit of "special events."

Since 1989 the Rotary Club has contributed more than $40,000 to the PolioPlus eradication of polio in the world by 2005 campaign Since 1975 (for 39 years) the club has recognized the "William E.

Grove II Memorial Firefighter of the Year" in a collaborative effort with the Cheshire Volunteer Fire Department.

The local Scholarship program-- at the rate of two to four scholarships/year-- has awarded, according to the club's figures, 167 scholarships to Cheshire students.

Since 1981 the Birthday Book program, in conjunction with the Cheshire  Public Library, has purchased and donated to the Library some 750 books in recognition Rotarian birthdays.

This year the Club underwrites the cost of Cheshire YMCA Van for program transportation.

Contribution support to many agencies include: COCO, Cheshire Food Drive, Hospice organizations, Boy Scouts of America, and Cheshire Senior Center.

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