July 1, 1968 - June 30 1969

President: Joe Welty, Jr
Vice Pres: Phil Isaminger
Secretary: Pat Vest
Exec. Secretary: Carol Norton
Apple Seed: Pat Vest
District Governor: Ed Cadman

Attendance: 90.65%
New Members: 14
Members Lost: 10
Members end of the year: 171

President Joe Welty and his wife, Mimi, attended the Rotary International Convention in Mexico City in May, 1968. Joe and Mimi were accompanied by Jim and Olive Schrengohst, Jack and Edna Maguire, Charles and Dorothy Fox and Ed Cadman, District Governor. On august 1, President Joe presented color slides and commentary on the R. I. Convention trip, a meeting to which Rotary Anns were invited.

President Joe started the year with a 100% meeting. The first meeting fell on the 4th of July, consequently no meeting was held and everyone counted as present. 1968-69 was an exciting and busy year for Wenatchee Rotary. President Joe started his year by having the club sing America, followed by recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, most appropriate in these troubled times.

Early in the year Mike Ryan, son of the late Rotarian John Ryan, was chosen as a Graduate fellow to attend the University of Munich for one year. Sandra Jean Curtis was chosen as an Undergraduate fellow and will attend the University of Rennes, France, this year.

July 25, 1968, our club was visited by some flying members of the Seattle Rotary Club. Dick Odabashian, our good Rotarian from Cashmere, was in charge of the program.

September 19, Wenatchee Rotary was officially greeted by District 506 Governor, Ed Cadman, a member of the Wenatchee club. Ed mentioned how he always referred to our club as being one of the best in the District. The same evening the Board of Directors hosted Governor Ed to a nice dinner at the Chieftain, followed by a well-attended and informative Club Assembly.

The annual Service Club Golf Tournament was held lade in September and, again, was won by Rotary. Wayne Clough had low gross, Jim Goodfellow, Sr., had the long drive on No. 1.

On October 3 it was announced to the club that luncheon prices were going to be raised to $2.50.

The international project for the year was our club's 100% participation in the District Visible Woman project. Each member contributed $3.00 to buy a plastic visible model of a woman to send to a Rotary District in India for educational purposes.

Probably the most controversial subject of the Rotary year was the forming of Wenatchee North Rotary Club. Lev Craven was appointed extension chairman by district Governor Cadman to make a study of the North and see if there were enough businesses to warrant a new club. After making a lengthy survey, Lev reported back that there was a tremendous potential for a new club, and on December 12, 1968, the Wenatchee Rotary Club voted to release the territorial limits from 5th Street north in order that the new club could be formed. The wheels were put on motion and on April 19, 1969, the new club, comprised of 25 members, received their charter from R. I.

At the Christmas meeting December 19,m the collection for the Salvation Army reached an all-time high, $403.63, from those being present.
Firesides were held the week of February 6, 1969. Attendance was not good, but those who did attended enjoyed a nice evening of fellowship.

On April 25 the six men comprising the Group Study Exchange Team from Bolivia arrived in Seattle. They were met by Hal Schomer who was their official escort during their stay in District 506. We will be sending six young men from our district to Bolivia later this fall.

The highlight of the Rotary year was our joint District Conference with District 508. Under the co-chairmanship of Ed Nichols and John Manhart and their committees, a Conference was put on that will well be remembered by all in attendance. Conference attendance reached nearly 900. We were honored to have Mr. H. J. "Jim" Bennett and his lovely wife, Eileen, from Wales, England, as R. I. President Togasaki's personal representative.

The Rotary year came to an end on June 26 when the past presidents proceeded to defrock President Joe. After much horseplay and humor, Joe Welty was accepted into the Past President's club and Phil Isaminger was presented the President's diamond lapel pin for the 1969-70 Rotary year.