This June marks the 80th anniversary of Picton’s Rotary Club, the local chapter of an international organization founded in 1905. Rotary is dedicated to serving its community, and communities in need, in every corner of the world. This club was Chartered on June 7, 1943 as Rotary Club number 5,622.
Its 17 founding members included a department store manager, hotel owner, food wholesaler, bank manager, school inspector, car dealership owner, pharmacist, hardware store owner, physician, transport company owner, shoe retailer, the editor of the Picton Times, a furniture store owner, a Crown Attorney, a feed store manager and Russ Perkin, Principal of PECI, an active member of the club until his death on January 5, 2004 at the age of 98.
The club has about 50 or 60 members now.
Top of Rotary Ken Murray was the Hepburn Trophy winner as top local Rotarian in 1983. (Picton Gazette File Photo)
Before moving to the Prince Edward Yacht Club, meetings were held at the Royal Hotel. During the war years, members took turns bringing butter to the weekly luncheon. Special events included dances, plays and bingo. Fundraising activities over the years include a peanut drive, held annually for over 20 years, concerts, a street dance, a Mardi Gras Parade, a radio talent auction, hockey matches, raffles for cars and boats, and golf tournaments.
The Club has had many special causes. The early years focused on children with special needs (in the first year, $3,500 was raised for the Hospital for Sick Children). The Club supported Easter Seals and the Girl Guides. From the start, it has supported the Picton Hospital and both skating arenas.
The Rotary Youth Exchange started in 1975 and continued for almost 40 years. The club also supports the 851 Prince Edward Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron. Since 1996, a deserving student graduating from Grade 8 in every elementary school in the County has won a Rotary Citizenship Award. Working with the Stark Family Fund for many years, Rotary gives bursaries to students graduating from PECI, and another is presented every year to a County student graduating from Loyalist College. Our young people engage in citizenship and leadership events sponsored by Rotary.
Rotary acts in ways both large and small to support and enrich community life in Prince Edward County. Even the Santa Claus Parade: in the 1990s the club entered a float every year. The Regent Theatre and the County libraries are never forgotten. The Club founded Rotary Park on Ontario Street in the 1960s. This was also when it started annual rural-urban meetings, which bring together the business and agricultural communities of the County.
International involvements include gathering eyeglasses for India, an exchange with Scottish Curlers and the “Heifers for Haiti” project: a member of the club travels to Haiti on a regular basis to deal with practical problems. Local volunteers also support a school in Volcanes, Mexico, and ensure clean water. Members’ own donations support international Rotary causes, such as the drive to eliminate polio. International Service provides Shelterboxes throughout the world when disaster strikes, rebuilds hospitals, and supports women’s health and education. The war in Ukraine has sparked unprecedented partnerships and fundraising events. For this the members of the Rotary Club of Picton are especially proud.
Members of the Rotary Club of Picton are active volunteers. They have delivered Meals on Wheels for The Prince Edward County Community Care for Seniors Association since 1980. During the Trash Bash, members de-litter our roadsides and beaches. Rotary puts on a BBQ at the Hike for Hospice event, helps to serve the Christmas Dinner at the Salvation Army, and maintains the new Rotary Woods Walkway at the Macaulay Conservation Authority, where it also installed new benches. During the pandemic, our members could be seen day in and day out at the Vaccination Clinic in Picton, making sure that all were greeted warmly and had a good experience.
A Club of Benefactors
In June 1997, saw the first official Benefactor: this is a member who bequeaths $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. Many Rotary Club of Picton members are also benefactors. A Paul Harris Fellow donates $1,000 to the Foundation. Each additional increment is recognized, and the Club has many members with several stones in their Paul Harris Fellow pin. This award is Rotary’s highest honour, conferred upon many community members to recognize their contributions to making Prince Edward County, our country and the world a better place.
In 1990 the first woman was invited to join the Rotary Club of Picton – Debbie MacDonald Moynes. She was elected President in 1996-1997. We now have another woman President, Barbara Proctor. Barb has been instrumental in steering Rotary’s focus to the environment.
Long Serving Members of the Rotary Club of Picton
The Rotary Club of Picton is fortunate to have many long-serving members. A source of wisdom and with a wealth of experience, they are committed to the work of Rotary in Picton, Prince Edward County and the world.
Combined, the above 10 Rotarians have given 392 years of service to Rotary.
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