Rotary Club of Lebanon

Lebanon Rotary was chartered as Club Number 1042, on December 28, 1921. It was the first civic club organized to serve our community. Many others have followed.

That December, 23 Lebanon businessmen decided to invest their time and talents to create a local Rotary Club. They followed the lead of Dr. James Robert Bone and became charter members. Six of them would eventually serve as President of the club.

The club was, and is, motivated and guided by the international charge, “Service above self. He profits most who serves best.”

Below are samples of documents and records from 1930 to 1939.

The Club's "The Weekly Letter", dated December 10, 1930. Note that a "Ladies Night" is proposed to celebrate the club's upcoming 9th birthday. An annual "Ladies Night" became an annual tradition until women became club members in August 1996. Also note in the "Letter" that Cumberland University had recently joined the "Southern Association of Colleges".

In June 1931, the Rotary Club of Lebanon played host to a group of Italian cadets enrolled at Castle Heights Military Academy. Billed as a "Ladies Night" event, the club members, accompanied by their wives, entertained the visiting cadets.

Board resolution to record that on August 27, 1931, the Club's Board of Directors approved a plan to fund the building of or acquiring a log cabin which would then be loaned to the local chapter of the Boy Scouts for their use. Page 1 above; page 2 is below.

Sam Bone elected to Club president for 1934-1935.

The 1930-1931 version of the "weekly" bulletin for Club meetings.

Meritorious Service Award to Sam S. Bone from the Lebanon Democrat (1934-1935).