DeKalb Rotary Club Records, 1930-2005 | Northern Illinois University

The DeKalb Rotary Club was organized on January 22, 1921 under the sponsorship of the Joliet Rotary Club.  The Club’s founding officers were president, W.W. Wirtz; vice president, E.A. Shetter; secretary, E.E. Woods; treasurer, C.W. Whitten; Sergeant at Arms, Dr. O.W. Nelson.  

The object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:  1) The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service; 2) High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society; 3) The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business, and community life; 4) The advancement of international understanding, good will, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men united in the ideal of service.  

The DeKalb Rotary Club sponsored many projects and programs.  In 1923 the club sponsored one of their first projects when the outdoor swimming pool located on South Malta Road opened.  The pool was located at the present location of Lions Park.  

In September 1926, John McQueen of Kirkland donated land north of Kirkland on the Kishwaukee River to the Club.  The land, given in trust to the DeKalb Rotary Club, was to be used to establish a camp ground for Boy Scout and Girl Scout organizations in DeKalb County.  Totaling 27 acres, the Club built and maintained an outdoor swimming pool, six cottages, a mess hall, administration building, a halfway house, and six wooden screened-in shelters.  

The Club also sponsored scholarships for DeKalb High School students, foreign exchange programs for students, and Group Study Exchange Programs for fellow Rotarians.  In 1944 the DeKalb Rotary Club sponsored the Sycamore Rotary Club and in 1949 both rotary clubs along with the DeKalb and Sycamore Garden Club planted trees on Route 23 between the two cities.