History of the Rotary Club of As

History of the Rotary Club of Asbury Park

Back to the 1970's The 1980's To the 1990's

Jack Orosz (1979-80) took the club into the eighties with an emphasis on our environment. Charles C. "Charlie" Phillips was honored with a Paul Harris Fellow. This honor acknowledged his service to Asbury Rotary, his services as a past district governor (the Club's third), his past chairmanships to the New Jersey Partners of the Alliance for Progress and the Shore Area United Fund and as a 50 year member of the Boy Scouts of America.

Bruce Hunt (1980-81) was President during the "Goats for Africa" project. The Club conducted a raffle with the proceeds going to the Salvation Army to purchase a herd of goats for a poor village in Africa. The concept was to teach the farmers to maintain a herd, utilize the milk and only eat those goats over the number of the original herd, thus maintaining the food source. In July of 1980, Bruce ushered in the First Annual Yard Sale on the Handford's front lawn in Ocean Grove. The Club raised over $4,000. Bruce will perhaps best be remembered for his "jokes" that most often were received with resounding boos! But we loved them - and so did Bruce.

Alan Heinlein (1981-82) instituted a "Close Out Sale" on the Molly Pitcher coins. When the price of silver went up, he required purchasers to also buy a bronze coin. The Second Annual Yard Sale was held at the Handford home. Other projects included selling Gourmet Club Dinner Discount Books for the Multiple Sclerosis Association, special blue past president badges and Rotary styled birthday and anniversary cards sent to the members. Luncheon speakers received a special gift, a coffee mug that was lettered "Guest Speaker Asbury Park N.J. Rotary Club."

In the early decades of the Club, all summer visitors to the Club received a gift box of salt water taffy with a picture post card on the cover.

James D. Lindemuth (1982-83) moved into the Presidency after only being in the Club since May 1979. His year started early when he summoned all the Club's Rotary-Ann's at the District Conference at the Concord Hotel in Berkshire, New York to a meeting in his room. Jim emphasized the Rotary Committee process that year which resulted in a very successful administration.

Gene Lowy (1983-84) will always be remembered for putting together a series of four charity golf outings that were held from 1987 to 1990 at Hollywood Golf Club, Deal, New Jersey. The first event sent $10,000 as the Club's contribution to the Ronald McDonald House project of Rotary District 751. It was to be constructed in Long Branch, adjacent to Monmouth Medical Center. The following golf outings completed the donations to Ronald McDonald House and also allowed contributions to the Shore Area YMCA and the Monmouth Boys Club for a grand total of $40,000. The social event of the year was the "Holiday Party" hosted at Gene and Ruth Lowy's home. It will always be fondly remembered when Gene ordered "some of those red flowers" (poinsettia) and hung Christmas lights on their Jewish home.

In the following administration, our Club was led by Charles Gspann (d-1984-85). An active "ham radio operator", Charlie communicated around the world and through the Rotarians of Amateur Radio (ROAR) rendered assistance during the earthquake and flood disasters in Mexico, California and the Mid-West.

Gary Siciliano (1985-86) continued the Club's past support of the Jersey Shore Medical Center's Hospice Program with the donation of a TV and VCR for bedside use. A contribution of $1,000 was given to the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association to repair storm damage to the roof of the historic Ocean Grove Auditorium. The Club sponsored an Inter-City Rotary luncheon at the newly opened and refurbished Berkeley-Carteret Hotel. Approximately 300 Rotarians from Long Branch, Wall Township and Spring Lake-Brielle met with us to listen to the Chief Counsel to the Governor, W. Cary Edwards. Rotary District 751 Governor Weyman D. Steengrafe also addressed the gathering. The affair was put together under the direction of Joe Bennett.

Most deservedly, Joe Bennett was nominated by the board and received the "Matty Mathewson -- Mr. Rotary Award" by Rotary District 751. This presentation was made during the district conference at Host Farms, Lancaster, Pennsylvania in May of 1986. To this day, Joe lives up to this honor by unselfishly dedicating endless hours of time and hard work to all activities of Rotary.

The untimely death of President Carroll Pierce (d-1986-87) required Leslie "Les" Loysen (1987-88) to take the helm a few months early. During this year, Rotary International conferred on the Salvation Army its highest honor -- the 1988 Rotary Award for World Understanding.

It was only fitting that during Gene Kirsch's (d-1988-89) term as President, the Salvation Army of Asbury Park honored the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs of Asbury Park at the 14th Annual Civic Awards Dinner for their food collection drives. In 1983, Gene organized the Thanksgiving "Can-AThon" which continues to be an active Club project.

During the administration of Jay Truppo (1989-90), all the on-going fund raisers were continued with injections of lighthearted fun conceived by President "Jay" such as "Crazy Shorts Day". Bob Danielson stepped down as Club Secretary in June 1990, having dedicated ten years of service in that office.

Back to the 1970's The 1980's To the 1990's

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