THE HISTORY OF INNER WHEEL

AT LOS GATOS ROTARY

The idea of a "Ladies Auxiliary" to the Los Gatos Rotary Club started in 1986 at the request of the Rotarians to promote friendships and make the club events more fun.   In September, during Al Kendree's term, nine of the ladies got together at the home of Pat Szukalski and had an officer of Inner Wheel discuss the organization with them.  These original organizers were: Billie Kendree, Charley Ann Cobb, Karen Towner, Chris Burtchaell, Faith Karnan, Joan Schenk, Gloria Charter, Lee Cilker, and Pat Szukalski.

At that meeting it was explained to them that Inner Wheel was formed in 1924 in England to promote friendship, ideals of personal service and International understanding amongst the wives of Rotarians.

A few weeks later the ladies decided that Inner Wheel was the way to go.  They formed a temporary club to get the ball rolling and immediately planned a Christmas tea to introduce the wives of the Rotary members to the idea of Inner Wheel.   (There were no ladies in Rotary at that time).

They continued their efforts and in April of 1987, they had an organizational meeting and 21 ladies signed the charter.  They continued their efforts to get more of the ladies interested and by the time the charter was presented in February, 1988 there were 48 members which immediately made them one of the largest Inner Wheel Clubs in the district.  At the Charter Banquet the Immediate Past President Al Kendree and the current President Dick Karnan honored the Founding President of our Inner Wheel, Chris Burtchaell, with a Paul Harris Fellowship.

It is important to note that they had the wholehearted support of the Rotary Presidents Al Kendree and Dick Karnan and their Boards of Directors in getting the Club started.  They were funded by the Rotary Club in order to cover their initial expenses, such as postage, stationery, club flags, lapel pins, etc.  Rotary still supports them to the extent of paying the postage for the monthly bulletin so that it can go to all Rotary spouses.  This keeps Inner Wheel closer to the Rotary Club in that all spouses - men are included in Inner Wheel now - are informed of Inner Wheel activities and invited to attend the meetings ani functions.

The purposes of the club are:

1. To foster friendship among the spouses so as to enhance Rotary social functions to make them enjoyable for all.

2. To assist the Rotary club with their fund raisers and social events.

3. To support the aims and ideals of International Inner Wheel

They have had a part in every one of our Auctions since they were formed, furnishing the hors d'ouvres, doing decorations and occasionally having a silent auction table.  They have taken part in all the Great Race programs, at the registration tables and at the end of the race handing out oranges and drinks to participants.  Each year they attend our Ladies Day Rotary meeting, usually in January.

Our Rotary Club is much more cohesive now that the spouses are included through Inner Wheel.  It is a good organization and they help us with our community work and social events.

We are honored to have the 1994-1995 District 517 Chris Burtchaell, as a member of our own Inner Wheel.

The Inner Wheel U.S.A. Foundation, of which our club is a part, supports the Myo-electric Limb Bank at the Lucille Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford as their only project.  The Limb Bank manufactures and supplies electronically operated forearms and hands for children who were born without those limbs or who lost them in an accident.   The Inner Wheel Foundation is the only support for the Limb Bank and the Foundation is the main charity our club supports.  The motto for this project is "Give a Child a Hand."

Sam Burtchaell May, 1995