Arrival of Delegates

The Day of Arrival for the 1912 Convention

by Rachael E. Martin, Club #25 Historian

For the 1912 Rotary convention in Duluth, delegates from all parts of the U. S. and beyond were expected to arrive.
 

Duluth Rotarians and their wives began meeting trains and boats a few days before the start of the convention. The Ladies Reception Committee met the Buffalo train on August 5 and found just one woman in that delegation. That evening they met the 9:55 train with 100 delegates and nearly as many women from the Twin Cities. Two boats on August 6 brought delegates from Chicago, New York and other eastern cities.
 

The eastern delegation arriving on board the ship the Minnesota included Paul P. Harris of Chicago, national president of the Rotary clubs, and J. E. Fitzwilson of Boston, national vice president. Among the entertainments planned by the Chicago club en route was the man of war ceremony known as the "Tribute to Neptune". The ceremony ends with the grand climax of throwing a new recruit overboard to bring good luck. A. Packer, secretary of the Chicago club, enacted the role of King Neptune, giving the new recruit a good dunking on board instead.
 

Charles E. Perry of Chicago, national secretary of the Rotary clubs, arrived in Duluth earlier, and gave a short speech at a luncheon on August 5^th. Perry praised the Duluth club for the progress it made during the last year, especially in its cooperation with the Commercial Club and other civic societies in furthering things, which made for a greater Duluth.
 

Perry's comments were not idle praise. The Duluth Rotary club had accomplished much in one year. The club was organized in February 1911 with 16 charter members and had grown to 79 members by May 1, 1912. In one short year, the Duluth Rotary club almost quintupled its membership and was hosting the national Rotary convention in Duluth.