Celebrating Davenport Rotary's 110th Anniversary as of 11/11/2021
A bit of Club History:
William T. Waterman called the Rotary Club of Davenport Iowa together for the first time on November 11, 1911 when 28 members met at the Davenport Hotel. William Waterman and William H. (Bill) Harrison initiated the idea of such a club after Harrison visited the Rotary Club in Des Moines. Later, they met with Founder Paul Harris in Chicago and picked up more enthusiasm for their efforts. In February 1912, the club was chartered with 58 members by the National Association of Rotary Clubs, now Rotary International.
Their first service project was a Christmas party in 1911 at which they hosted 100 needy children. The next big project that they undertook was the Davenport City Beautiful Contest in which neighbors were encouraged to improve their gardens. This early 1913 project was recognized and published in the Lady's Home Journal and as a result was copied by many other cities and organizations.
Their first service project was a Christmas party in 1911 at which they hosted 100 needy children. The next big project that they undertook was the Davenport City Beautiful Contest in which neighbors were encouraged to improve their gardens. This early 1913 project was recognized and published in the Lady's Home Journal and as a result was copied by many other cities and organizations.
The Davenport Rotary Club has sponsored the creation of, or has partnered with another Rotary Club, in extending ten new clubs. In Illinois, we sponsored the Rotary Clubs of Rock Island and Moline in 1914. In Iowa, we sponsored the Rotary Club of Iowa City in 1915, the Rotary Club of Muscatine in 1920, the Rotary Club of Maquoketa in 1939, the Rotary Club of Burlington in 1950, the Rotary Club of Bettendorf in 1957, the Rotary Club of North Scott in 1973, and the club co-sponsored the Iowa Quad Cities Club with the Bettendorf Rotary Club in 1985. In 2007, our Club sponsored a new Rotary Club in Siem Reap Angkor, Cambodia. In addition to sponsoring new clubs, two members of our Club have received the honor of serving as District Governor for our Rotary District 6000: Henry Hook in 1973-1974 and William M. Brandon in 1936-1937.