Posted on Jul 30, 2017

Did you know that the Boise Downtown Rotary Club is the oldest club in Idaho? The move to organize Idaho's first Rotary Club began with a letter dated June 30, 1916 from R. R. Alexander, the club’s eventual first secretary, to Dr. F. C. Witherspoon of Montana, the Governor of the District 14 International Association of Rotary Clubs. Subsequent correspondence with Dr. Witherspoon and International Secretary Chesley R. Perry resulted in the designation of Charles E. Cochran, President of the Portland Club, as acting Deputy District Governor, to assist the Boise Club with its organizational plans.

On March 2, 1917 a list of 100 approved classifications was received from Secretary Perry and the Organization Committee began to work rapidly. On March 29, they met for lunch at the Chamber of Commerce and created a temporary organization.

The Boise Rotary Club was installed at an Owyhee Hotel Banquet attended by more than 100 prominent business and professional men from Boise, Portland and Salt Lake City on April 28, 1917.

A gala celebrating Idaho's 100-year anniversary was held June 24, 2017 at the Boise Centre, where Idaho Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter proclaimed the week of June 18-24, 2017 as Idaho Rotary Centennial Week.

Source: http://boiserotary.org/history