Page 2 - Gears and Ears October 2014
P. 2
Gears and Ears
Journal of the Rotary Club of Lake BuenaVista
Page 2
When,in 1905,aChicagoLawyer startedanorganization with three
businessassociates,heprobably neverdreamedthat it would spread
acrossthe world andhelp somany people andtouch somany lives.
Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, inspired the idea of a club that
supports both businessand the community. The essenceof Rotary
is fellowship and through that connection, the work of Rotary
supportslocal, national, andinternational servicesthatarededicated
to making the world abetter place. This samegoal is sharedby and
inspires membersof the Rotary Club of Lake BuenaVista.
Walt Disney wasan honorary memberof the Palm Springs, California Rotary club, so it
wasfitting that aclub beestablishedonthesite of his newthemepark in Florida. While he
did not live to seetherealization of his granddreamor thefounding of thenewRotary club,
in February,1972,just monthsafter Walt DisneyWorld® opened,theRotary Club of Lake
BuenaVista wascharteredat thefirst Rotary District Conferenceheld on theproperty. As
partof our charter,theclub wasgrantedtheexclusive privilege andhonorof displaying the
iconic Mickey’s Earson our Rotary badgesandbanners.
The Club’s first presidentwasFrank Dennisonandits first PaulHarris Fellow wasKeith
Johnson.Thefirst womanto beinducted into theClub wasSaraMobley, andthefirst of 28
Rotary Foundation Scholars was Dawn Chesko-Grigsby. The Club still maintains the
distinction of sponsoring more candidates selected as Rotary Foundation Scholars than
anyotherClub in theworld.
Weareproud to serveasa key Rotary makeuplocation. It wasthe goal of pastpresident
Harold Davis to make it easyand convenient to make up missed meetingsfor Rotarians
visiting from aroundtheworld. Sinceour founding, wehaveenjoyedacontinuousstream
of visitors who come to the Disney areafor both leisure and business. Over the years,
Rotarians from dozensof countries have attendedour Club’s weekly breakfast meeting
held everyThursdaymorning at7:15 a.m.attheWyndhamLake BuenaVista Resortlocated
onWalt DisneyWorld at 1850Hotel PlazaBlvd., LakeBuenaVista, Florida
Publisher-- Jeff Calvert
Editor-in-Chief and Graphics-- AugustineCampana
Marketing: ReggieRiley
Contributors -- Phil Wright, RommelMosquera