The History of Our Club

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Winter Haven Rotary was organized on May 19, 1925. It began with 25 business and community leaders who were interested in making their town a better place to live.

The chairman of the Organization Committee and the club’s first president was C.X. Balfour. The club met at various places over the years such as the Haven Hotel, Roseart Hotel, Haven Café, and in later years Morrison’s Cafeteria, the Holiday Inn, and now Olde Towne Square.

Reading the list of members in the early years of the club is like a Who’s Who of Winter Haven with names such a Recker, Gessler, Overstreet, Pope, Gil Jones, and many others. The club grew to as many as 130 members during the 1970’s.

There have been many community service programs during the years including Camp Rotary and Rotary All Children’s Park, wheelchair accessible ramps, and new ideas are always welcome.