History

ROTARY CLUB OF TELLICO LAKE

EARLY HISTORY

Written by Joan McIntee, Honorary Member

In the Fall of 2004, a significant amount of interest had been expressed in having a Rotary Club in the Tellico Lake area.

A steering committee – Rotarian Sam Wells, Rotarian Art Spurrier, Rotarian Jim Decker and Rotarian Sandy Guinn (all members of the Rotary Club of Lenoir City); PDG Jack Richard (Rotary Club of Oak Ridge); and, PAG Joan McIntee (Rotary Club of Farragut) met October 13 and November 10 to plan an Informational Meeting for potential members. Posters were designed and distributed to Tellico Village and Rarity Bay subdivisions and the Vonore area.  At 3:00 p.m., November 17, 2005, an Informational Meeting was held at Rarity Bay Enrichment Center.

DGE Karen Wentz (Rotary Club of Maryville) and PAG Joan McIntee Co-chaired the Registration Table, greeted approximately 30 attendees, prepared name tags and furnished each attendee with Rotary information materials.  Rotarian Sam Wells (Rotary Club of Lenoir City) called the meeting to order, stated the purpose of the meeting and invited the attendees to introduce themselves.

PDG Jack Richard introduced DG John Bailey (Rotary Club of Knoxville), who elaborated on “Membership as a Rotarian” and “Forming A New Rotary Club”.

PRIVP Bill Sergeant’s (Rotary Club of Oak Ridge) remarks covered “RI’s Major World Project – The Eradication of Polio”.  AG Joe Walls (Rotary Club of Fairfield Glade) relayed his experience in a Rotary Club in a retirement community.

Rotarian Jim Roald (Rotary Club of North River, Chattanooga) relayed his experience with founding a new Rotary Club.  A lively question/answer period followed.  PDG Jack Richard outlined the steps necessary to becoming a certified Rotary Club.  DG John Bailey appointed PDG Richard as the Governor’s Special Representative.

Breakfast meetings were held Dec. 8, 2004 and January 12, 2005, at Tanasi Golf Club, Tellico Village.  Rotarian Jim Decker chaired the breakfast meeting, January 28, 2005, at the Plaza Restaurant in Tellico Village.  The following provisional Officers were elected.  President: Sam Wells; President-elect Paul Oaviano; Vice President Art Spurrier; Treasurer: Laird Willson; and, Acting Secretary; PAG Joan Mclntee.

It was agreed to have Friday morning breakfast meetings at the Grand Vista Hotel,Vonore.  And the Rotary Club of Lenoir City agreed to be the sponsoring club.  A goal was set to prepare the Rotary International application to become a certified Rotary Club and submit the required forms by the end of February, 2005.

The first meeting held at the Grand Vista Hotel, Vonore, was on February 11th’ with Ron Hammontree, Director of the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency, as the speaker.  The following additional Chairmen agreed to serve: Sgt. At Arms: Rotarian John Burns; Membership Chairman: Rotarian Art Spurrier; International Service Chairman: Rotarian Duane Baumert; Community Service Co-Chairman: Rotarian Jim Decker and Rotarian Dave Rose.  Dues of $70 per quarter (with $31.90 to RI) were established Plans were in full swing to become a certified Rotary Club during 2005, Rotary International’s Centennial Year.

In March, 2005, Rotarian Shauna Oden was elected as Vice President, with Rotarian Art Spurrier remaining as Membership Chairman Rotarian Nancy Krause-Laurie was elected as Vocational Service Chairman.

The Rotary Club of Tellico Lake was officially chartered May 20, 2005, as Rotary Club #69375.  The club’s mailing address was established as 298 Village Square Drive #113, Loudon,TN 37774.

At the June,2005, Board of Directors’ meeting, Rotarian Roger Larsen (Rotary Club of Bethel, Maine) was officially elected as Club Secretary, replacing Acting Secretary PAG Joan Mclntee, who was designated: Honorary Member.

The Charter presentation and Installation of Officers/Directors was held at Rarity Bay Country Club,Vonore, at 6:00 p.m., Thursday, June 30,2005.  Local media covered the event that was attended by numerous Rotary International dignitaries.

(Notation: The Rotary Club of  Lenoir City/Tellico Lake was disbanded and their bell was donated to the Rotary Club of Tellico Lake.  The Rotary Club of Tellico Lake was the first Rotary Club in District 6780 to adopt the New Club Leadership Plan.)