Before the celebration began, President Rosie Mares welcomed our newest member, Hsiao Chen, Trinity Jewelry, sponsored by Sho Tay and Mike Hoey.  Hsiao was a Rotary member in Taiwan for about 9 years before coming to Arcadia and the greatest rotary club in the world.

With a packed house (Embassy Suites actually) the Arcadia Rotary Club celebrated 89 years since it was started.  The lunch was excellent, there were visitors from Rotary past,  John Fee, Jim Hanrahan, Bob Margett and others.

A wonderful silent movie / slide show took us all back to a time before, when many Rotarians had dark hair, it was stunning and reminded us all of the important contributions that Rotarians are making in Arcadia and around the world.  Following was a pictorial of our past presidents, which was fantastic.

John Fee, 40 years in Arcadia Rotary, then told the story of how in 1976 the Duarte Rotary Club pioneered the first women in Rotary.  The Duarte club had submitted and had 4 women admitted to membership by using just an initial and last name, very creative. It did involve a law suit against RI, initially ruling in favor RI upholding no women, then almost 10 years later on appeal, overturned favoring women being allowed.  The California Supreme court declined to hear the case further and ultimately RI reversed, opening Rotary to women world wide .

Frank Perini, 57 years in Arcadia Rotary, noted that it was not just women that faced challenges being accepted into Rotary, but Mexicans too.  Franks initial application to Rotary was declined and not until the person opposing his application died, was Frank able to join Rotary.  But it was not a warm welcome at first, not until Frank volunteered to greet Rotarians at the door for 3 months, which turned into 5 years, and then was Frank welcomed to fully participate in the Arcadia Rotary.

Next up was Phyllis Corliss, a 17 year Rotarian recanting her membership first as a female spouse, then following her husbands passing, she was given an invitation to join. She then highlighted how rich her experience has been with Rotary and as owner of The Corliss Group, leading tours throughout the world.

Bob Novell reminded us of the great work that is being done by Rotarians, not only in Arcadia, but literally around the world. In Uganda with Hamlet sponsoring a $39,000 project, bringing clean water to areas that do not have what we totally take for granted, turning on the faucet and getting clean water.

Rosie closed this fantastic meeting of the Greatest Rotary Club in the world!