FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Georgia Historical Society and Rotary Club of Savannah To Commemorate Club Centennial with Historical Marker
Savannah, Ga., January 3, 2014- The Georgia Historical Society and the Rotary Club of Savannah will mark the 100th anniversary of the founding of the club with the dedication of a historical marker at the location of their founding.
“This is a significant milestone for the Rotary Club of Savannah and it is important that we draw attention not only to the longevity of the club but to the many great contributions that the Rotary Club has made to the city and the citizens of Savannah and the world,” said Dr. W. Todd Groce, President and C.E.O. of the Georgia Historical Society.
The dedication will take place Monday, January 6 at 1:30 p.m. at the corner of Bull and Liberty Streets in front of the Desoto Hilton in downtown Savannah.
The Rotary Club of Savannah was founded January 5, 1914 at the Desoto Hotel by John S. Banks and a group of local businessmen. It was the second Rotary Club established in Georgia.
Marker Text:
The Rotary Club of Savannah
Service Above Self
On January 5, 1914, the Rotary Club of Savannah met for the first time at the DeSoto Hotel. Founded by John S. Banks and a group of local businessmen, this was the second Rotary club established in Georgia. The nation’s first service club, Rotary began in Chicago in 1905 and promotes community and economic development projects at home and abroad. The Savannah club sponsored the formation of eight others around the state. Together, they championed local and regional developments including completing the road to Tybee Island, improving the Savannah River for commercial traffic, enhancing the Dixie Highway system in southeast Georgia, and building bridges over the Savannah and Altamaha Rivers. Furthering the goals of Rotary International, the club has also supported wartime relief efforts, student scholarships, polio eradication, and other global health initiatives.
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SAVANNAH: 501 Whitaker St., Savannah, GA 31401
ATLANTA: 260 14th St., NW, Ste. A-148, Atlanta, GA 30318
Georgia Historical Society (GHS) is the premier independent statewide institution responsible for collecting, examining and teaching Georgia history. GHS houses the oldest and most distinguished collection of materials related exclusively to Georgia history in the nation.