History of the Rotary Club of As

History of the Rotary Club of Asbury Park

First Year of the Club 1920's To the 1930's

On February 24, 1920, a Rotary Committee was appointed to consider the advisability of changing the name of Asbury Park. It was contended that most outsiders thought the name only denoted a public park at the shore. Obviously, the proposal was not enacted.

In April 1920, the First District Rotary Conference was held in Asbury Park. A Second District Conference was held in March 1925. Asbury Park was a popular convention center.

Dick Gibbons (1959-60) recalled in his "Retrospect" column in the Ocean Grove-Neptune Times of the influence of the Rotary Club of Asbury Park. "Rotarians saw the need on April 13, 1920, for a great open space for recreation. There was no room in the city so Rotarians sponsored the purchase of a portion of the abandoned county poor farm in Neptune, and oversaw the construction of the Asbury Park Golf and Country Club. The club became a memorial to local veterans who lost their lives in World War I. This golf facility has now become part of the Monmouth County Park System and was renamed Shark River Golf Club."

On September l, 1920, the Asbury Park Rotary Club was the guest of Sherman Dennis at the Monterey Hotel for a demonstration of "loop wireless reception" by Harrold Warren. This was a new communication concept. In the 1980's the Rotarians enjoyed a preview of the FAX machine before it reached today's popularity.

On February 1, 1921, the Club sponsored a charter for the Rotary Club of Long Branch. A friendly rivalry has existed ever since.

In April 1921, J. Lyle Kinmonth was elected District Governor in Poughkeepsie defeating a candidate from a Brooklyn Club. Thirty-three members from Asbury Park attended that year's District Conference.

By 1922, the International Association of Rotary Clubs adopted a new constitution and bylaws for newly formed clubs and shortened Rotary's official name to "Rotary International".

On March 1, 1922, the Public Affairs Committee, chaired by H. G.. Hurley recommended that Rotary initiate the formation of a Community Chest in Asbury Park. Sixteen years later it became a reality. Also on this date, the Club sponsored a charter for the Rotary Club of Lakewood.

Until this time, the Rotary Club of Asbury Park membership was limited to the City of Asbury Park. Now, the territorial limits of the club were extended to include Deal, Allenhurst, Loch Arbor, Ocean Grove, Avon, Bradley Beach and the Township of Neptune. Although Ocean Township falls within the Asbury Park Rotary Club territory today, no mention is made in Rotary history of when it was included.

On March 9, 1922, Rotary appointed a committee to study the question of a new high school in Asbury Park. In August of this summer, the Club hosted crippled children with "Kiddies Day at the Beach."

In September of 1923, Fiorello LaGuardia was the guest speaker at the weekly meeting held at the Marlborough Hotel. The Club purchased uniforms for the Asbury Park High School Band.

On March 19, 1926, the Club appointed a committee to work on plans for the erection of a stadium at the Asbury Park High School athletic grounds. With Rotary generating public support, the city officials took over the project which was completed in 1927. It remains to this day one of the finest high school football stadiums in the state. From June 5 to June 10, 1927, James D. Carton, Esq., attended the Rotary Convention in Ostend, Belgium.

On May 14, 1929, Count Alexie Tolstoy was the club's speaker of the day. In the Fall of 1929, Frank Cole (d-1920-21) was elected District Governor, the second member from the Asbury Park Club to achieve this distinguished position.

First Year of the Club 1920's To the 1930's

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