Club History

The Rotary Club of Arlington Heights (RCAH) was chartered March 28, 1956. It is one of the 28,284 Rotary Clubs, located in 155 Countries, which are members of Rotary International. Rotary International is an organization of business and professional leaders working to promote humanitarian service, high ethical standards in all vocations and international understanding and peace.

Charter Members
The following list contains the names and classificiations of the people who helped establish the Rotary Club of Arlington Heights in 1956.

Edgar H. Behrens - Clergyman
Nick C. Barkulis - Retail
Charles F. Close - School Equipment Manager
Donald W. Grote - Educator
George Harris - Retail
Clarence Hendrickson - Real Estate
Stephen Jurco - Attorney
John H. Kehe - Retail
John M. Kempf - Director Religious Home
Everett H. Lindgren - Retail
Robert Marsh - Retail
Verdell E. Middleton - Funeral Director
George C. Poole - Retail
John W. Schaff - Business Manager H.S.
Frank A. Schroeder - Dentist
William M. Siegel - Restaurant
Ronald H. Stahl - Architect
Joseph Svoboda - Men's Clothing
Dwight H. Wallace - Chamber of Commerce
Keith Wurtz - Physician-Surgeon

On June 23, 2006 the Arlington Heights chapter of Rotary International celebrated the installation of our new officers, as well as the 50 th anniversary of our group! It is with this golden anniversary that we are able to reflect on all that our Rotary has accomplished over the years. These accomplishments are not only in and around Arlington Heights but are world wide.

In 1956 the Rotary consisted of 20 business and professional leaders that worked together to form the Arlington Heights Chapter of Rotary International. It was Robert J. Marsh that headed up this innovative group. Following are the names of those individuals as well as their respective occupations:

Edgar H. Behrens - Clergyman
Nick C. Barkulis - Retail
Charles F. Close - School Equipment Manager
Donald W. Grote - Educator
George Harris - Retail
Clarence Hendrickson - Real Estate
Stephen Jurco - Attorney
John H. Kehe - Retail
John M. Kempf - Director Religious Home
Everett H. Lindgren - Retail
Robert Marsh - Retail
Verdell E. Middleton - Funeral Director
George C. Poole - Retail
John W. Schaff - Business Manager H.S.
Frank A. Schroeder - Dentist
William M. Siegel - Restaurant
Ronald H. Stahl - Architect
Joseph Svoboda - Men's Clothing
Dwight H. Wallace - Chamber of Commerce
Keith Wurtz - Physician-Surgeon

Each year thereafter the AHTS Rotary has brought on new members, new challenges. With every new member comes fresh ideas and excitement! The camaraderie that we share always adds to the fun of being a Rotarian!

By the end of our first decade Rotary AHTS had contributed countless volunteer hours. Just in the first three years of existence (1956 – 1959) this chapter provided financial assistance in all four of the Rotary avenues of service (community service, club service, vocational service and international service). Our community service included assistance to Family Services and Youth Night. Vocationally seven scholarships totaling $1225.00 were provided. From the international side of service our chapter assisted the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations. And finally they also were able to service the Rotary Foundation. Equally as important were the Rotarian subscriptions that were provided to the high school library, public libray and the Lutheran Home.

The following gentlemen held the position of Club President during the first 10 years of the Arlington Heights Rotary:

Robert J. Marsh 1956-57
Charles F. Close 1957-58
C. Delmar Jarvis 1958-59
John Schaff 1959-60
Verdell Middleton 1960-61
James L. Drake 1961-62
William Kaucher 1962-63
Harold Rose 1963-64
John Lindstrom 1964-65
Raymond Raines 1965-66

Between 1966 and 1975 the Arlington Heights chapter sponsored both the Rotary Clubs of Schaumburg and Mount Prospect. They co-sponsored the Breakfast Club with the Barrington chapter. They also sponsored club representatives in a work study exchange and contributed funds to the foundation. Trees were planted in the Rotary Grove in memory of fellow Rotarians. They showed their Rotarian pride by marching in the Memorial Day Parade.

Throughout these years $17,707 was contributed to the following community organizations:

American Field Service
American Legion Baseball,
Arlington Heights Beautification Committee
Arlington Heights Drug Committee
Arlington Historical Society
Arlington Hieghts School DC Club
Boy Scouts of America
Cancer Fund
Cardinals Booster Club
Clearbrook Center
Cornets Marching Unit
Crusade of Mercy
George Lindholm Foundation
Golden Wheels Transportation for the Elderly
Jaycee Hockey Team
Lambs Farm
Little City
Lutheran Home
National Council for the Prevention of Drub Abuse
North Star Mission
Northwest Community Hospital

Save a Pet Foundation
Salvation Army Counseling Center
Sparkey Safety Education Program for Grade Schools
United Fund and
The Vision Conservation Institute (Save Our Sight).

They also contributed toward the purchase of Christmas decorations for the village and Community Service plaques. They helped out with the purchase of clothes and Christmas gifts for needy families in town and also aided the victims of the Oak Lawn Tornado disaster.

Vocationally the Campus Crusade, Child Family Studies Camp, Forest View High School Choral Group, Group Study Exchange Team from China, Hersey High School Band, Music Fund, Young Republicans and Youth Exchange all benefited from this Rotary’s giving spirit.

Locally 27 scholarships totaling $6714.00 were also given out.

The international service projects for this period of time included Amigo de las Americas Education Project and a School for the Handicapped Children in Argentina.

The individuals that headed up the Arlington Heights Rotary Chapter during these 10 years were:

Robert Paddock 1966-67
John Bowen 1967-68
William Jones 1968-69
George Harris 1969-70
Lawrence Jenness 1970-71
Stephen Jurco 1971-72
Robert Gotschalk 1972-73
Harold Nebel 1973-74
John Frieburg 1974-75
William Calderwood 1975-76

By 1976, our Rotary’s 3rd decade in existence, the size of our group had grown from ???? to ????. Our visibility in the community also had grown. During the next 10 years this Rotary contributed approximately $57,459.00 to various groups within the Club, Community and International Service areas. Our club involvement included the HHH Club, participation in the Rotary float at the Rose Bowl parade, co-sponsoring Buffalo Grove’s Rotary Samaga Project, foundation payment honoring Mike Silverman, the Rotary Grove, Rotary International Health, and the Rotary Youth Leadership Association. A memorial for Llene Jenness was given to Northwest Community Hospital, while a foundation donation was made in memory of Carl Mees. Payments were made to a Paul Harris Fellowship in honor of Harold Nebel (Man of the Year) and. throughout these years various Rotary Magazine subscriptions were also donated.

The following community organizations benefited from our help: the Arlington Heights Historical Society; the Arlington Heights Memorial Library for their piano fund, the Arlington High School Debate Team; Boy Scouts, including the sponsorship of an Eagle Scout; Clearbrook Center; the Exuma Program; the Fire Engine Fund; Girl Scouts; Golden Wheels Transportation Program; Martha Mead on the Eisenhower Tour; Multiple Sclerosis Swim Program; Northwest Commuity Hospital; Parkside Human Services of Lutheran General Hospital Senior Emergency Lifeline Program; Pedro Nunez Fire Benefit Fund; PTA’s Chemical Study; Spina Bifida; the Vision Conservation Institute; Wisconsin Rural Affairs Council; Youth Football Program; and the Zero Vandalism Committee.

Internationally this club helped out the Hunger and Humanity Project, India Relief Fund as well as the Bombay Rotary Club Building Project in India.

The vocational service during these 10 years includes $3775.00 contributed on scholarships for both Inbound & Outbound Youth Exchange Students; spending money for an exchange student from Germany and Thailand, a Group Study Exchange program, Group Study Exchange Team from Ireland; Junior Miss Debate team, the Lisa Gilstrap Special Education Scholarship, books to the St. Vincent Library in the Virgin Islands, Youth Council and Youth Exchange programs and various other scholarships.

The presidents for this decade include:

Fred Wolf 1976-77
Herman Olsen 1977-78
Roy Lyngaas 1978-79
Arthur Perry 1979-80
Michael Silverman 1980-81
Joe Kaltwasser 1981-82
Joe Kane 1982-83
Robert Blaseck 1983-84
Per B. Ohrstrom 1984-85
James Sadler 1985-86