Remembering Dick Gordon, Charter Rotarian
Rotary - An Appreciation by Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club Charter Member Dick Gordon from the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club Newsletter, November 9, 2006
I have been a member of the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club since January, 1980, when it was a provisional club waiting to be chartered by Rotary International. Joe Jennette was my sponsor. He had arranged for a notice to be published in a local weekly newspaper inviting former Rotarians to join, and I responded eagerly.
I had previously served in three Rotary Clubs in Southeast Asia, beginning in January, 1955. Those memberships totaling about seven years were most interesting and gratifying, and helped me tremendously in my public relations work for the U.S. Information Agency’s overseas program. I was active in all three clubs - - serving intermittently as International Director, Program Chairman and Bulletin Editor.
In our present Club, I have also been active, serving in various capacities culminating in the Presidency in 1999-2000. I have many pleasant memories of our International Nights which became annual affairs since our first one in 1981, which I had the privilege of organizing. Other highlights were our many fund-raisers including two enormous yard sales and two interesting art shows, and two especially successful dinner auctions in recent years. Also very interesting has been the extended fellowship with Rotarians from other clubs. I have in mind particularly the one International Conference that I attended in Portland, Oregon, in 1990, as well as the various District Conferences in the Washington area.
Similarly, it has been fun and rewarding to make up at other Rotary Clubs in the U.S. and abroad when I have traveled on trips. Two highlights in that regard stand out: In Scottsdale, Arizona, one of three new Rotarians who were inducted on the day I attended was Elliot Roosevelt, son of the late President FDR. He delivered a fascinating impromptu five-minute talk, and I had the honor of meeting him personally. In Carmel California, I found myself sitting next to a recently-retired U.S. General whose last assignment was as the top Army Commander in the Pacific.
Other highly rewarding experiences for both my wife and me were the numerous times we hosted and otherwise assisted a number of Rotary Scholars and other exchange visitors from Australia, England, France, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and Spain.
Our Club’s weekly meetings have been especially noteworthy for their informal fellowship. They have been fun, informative, mentally stimulating and gratifying. The Potomac-Bethesda Club stands out particularly by virtue of its highly cosmopolitan composition.
Rotary, with all its good works and fellowship at home and abroad, has been such a vital part of my life that I have included a bequest to the R.I. Foundation in my will.
Dick Gordon’s experience as a Rotarian predates the life of our Club since he first served in three Rotary Clubs in Southeast Asia, beginning in January 1955. Those memberships totaling about seven years were most interesting and gratifying, and helped Dick tremendously in his public relations work for the U.S. Information Agency’s overseas program. Before joining our Club, Dick and his wife, Jane, were found on the cover of Life Magazine as a result of a harrowing experience when their airplane ditched in the Pacific Ocean. Dick responded to a newspaper ad inviting former Rotarians to join this Club while it was being formed and Joe Jennette was his sponsor. Dick has been a generous and active contributor to the Club. He and his wife, Jane, have hosted a number of Rotary Scholars and other exchange visitors from around the world. And Dick is the only Charter Member who won the Alaska Trip raffle so that he, Jane, and a son could travel on the Norwegian Cruise Line to revisit and explore the shores of Alaska. Dick says and I quote: “Rotary…has been such a vital part of my life that I have included a bequest to the Rotary International Foundation in my will.” Thank you, Dick.