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Indian Wells Rotary Club
History:
The Rotary Club of Indian Wells - La Quinta was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Palm Desert.
Organizational meetings were held during the summer and fall of 1982 at the Desi Arnez owned Indian Wells Hotel (since demolished and replaced). Once beyond the preliminaries, the group applied to Rotary International for a charter and began meeting officially at the Desert Horizon Country Club in the fall of 1982. The Club was chartered by Rotary International on January 27, 1983.
The Rotary Club of Indian Wells - La Quinta was started with a charter roster of 34 members, some from the Palm Desert Club, some as the result of a solicitation of local businesses in the two cities, and by invitation of the founding members. Only 3 of the Charter Members are still a part of the Club in 2005, those being Andy Andeck, Jeff Lilley and Dick Oliphant.
The Club grew, having as many as 70 members in the next few years. That growth attracted the attention of the Rotary hierarchy and on July 1, 1987, the Rotary Club of La Quinta was formed and this Club became the Rotary Club of Indian Wells. Nine members moved to the new Club, our loss being their gain. Membership has fluctuated from the high of 70 to as low as 35.
Our meeting place changed for various reasons. Due to the unavailability of the Desert Horizon dining room, summer meetings were held at the Palm Desert Resort CC and later, at the La Quinta CC with the new La Quinta Rotary. Eventually we moved to the Ramada Hotel, then Stouffer’s Esmeralda and in 1995, to our present location at the Indian Wells Country Club, all providing year round service. .
The Club supplied both money and manpower to many community projects. Money has been raised for the La Quinta Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Children’s Discovery Museum, Cal State Univ. - San Bernardino - CV Campus and many others. The Club has sponsored Blood Drives for the Blood Bank, Earthquake Preparedness, Community Concerts by Military Bands, assisted the Braille Institute in serving Christmas Dinners, etc. Our giving took on an international flavor when the Club supplied a used fire engine to San Felipe, Mexico and later equipment for a Children’s Orthopedic Center in the same city. More recently, with the advent of “The Taste of Indian Wells” Fund Raiser, the Variety Club Children’s Cancer Project, College Scholarships, and Emmanuel House have been benefactors.
Funds must be raised to support our selected charities and this has been done both in traditional and less traditional methods. Early on, “Big Bucks” provided good results and lots of fun in the bargain. Upwards of $10,000 was raised each year. Golf Tournaments were another reliable source of funds. In 1992, the Club sponsored a Testimonial Dinner in honor of Dick Oliphant and we raised our total pledge to Polio Plus (in excess of $40,000) in this most successful community occasion. Until a few years ago “Taste of Indian Wells” was the major fund raiser. Last year club members sold beer and hot dogs at the first annual Jackie Cochran Air Show at the Thermal Airport. We'll do it again in 2005!
The Club has provided a balance of work and social time for its members. In the early days, there was a bus trip to Orange County to a dinner theatre, a bus trip to Las Vegas for wealth enhancement (not sure it worked), Christmas, Valentine and Charter Night Parties, and of course, the Annual Demotion Roast. The traditional Summer BBQs are also a high point of the year. District Conferences have provided an opportunity for more than a little levity. Some will remember the Rotary wife who was stuck on a ski lift in Big Bear for a couple of hours, or the “Love Boat on Land” Conference in Oxnard, or what seemed to be the whole Club sitting by the pool at the Hanalei Hotel in San Diego enjoying libations and singing as off key as we do at our regular meetings. No awards appear on our banner for the singing it but it was memorable and that is what counts!
And speaking of memories, no history of the Club would be complete without remembering and thanking all of those who have led us as officers and directors over the years. It was their foresight and prompting that has at times moved us from our less than secret desire to be a “knife and fork” operation to one that does have meaning to its members, its community and significance to the parent organization, Rotary International. That being said, thanks also to the probably 200 to 400 others who are now or have been a part of the Club in past years. Each and every one has contributed to its history and success. Perhaps it can all be summed up by saying a big thank you to every one who has ever worn the badge of the “Classic Club.”
The Rotary Club of Indian Wells - La Quinta was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Palm Desert.
Organizational meetings were held during the summer and fall of 1982 at the Desi Arnez owned Indian Wells Hotel (since demolished and replaced). Once beyond the preliminaries, the group applied to Rotary International for a charter and began meeting officially at the Desert Horizon Country Club in the fall of 1982. The Club was chartered by Rotary International on January 27, 1983.
The Rotary Club of Indian Wells - La Quinta was started with a charter roster of 34 members, some from the Palm Desert Club, some as the result of a solicitation of local businesses in the two cities, and by invitation of the founding members. Only 3 of the Charter Members are still a part of the Club in 2005, those being Andy Andeck, Jeff Lilley and Dick Oliphant.
The Club grew, having as many as 70 members in the next few years. That growth attracted the attention of the Rotary hierarchy and on July 1, 1987, the Rotary Club of La Quinta was formed and this Club became the Rotary Club of Indian Wells. Nine members moved to the new Club, our loss being their gain. Membership has fluctuated from the high of 70 to as low as 35.
Our meeting place changed for various reasons. Due to the unavailability of the Desert Horizon dining room, summer meetings were held at the Palm Desert Resort CC and later, at the La Quinta CC with the new La Quinta Rotary. Eventually we moved to the Ramada Hotel, then Stouffer’s Esmeralda and in 1995, to our present location at the Indian Wells Country Club, all providing year round service. .
The Club supplied both money and manpower to many community projects. Money has been raised for the La Quinta Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Children’s Discovery Museum, Cal State Univ. - San Bernardino - CV Campus and many others. The Club has sponsored Blood Drives for the Blood Bank, Earthquake Preparedness, Community Concerts by Military Bands, assisted the Braille Institute in serving Christmas Dinners, etc. Our giving took on an international flavor when the Club supplied a used fire engine to San Felipe, Mexico and later equipment for a Children’s Orthopedic Center in the same city. More recently, with the advent of “The Taste of Indian Wells” Fund Raiser, the Variety Club Children’s Cancer Project, College Scholarships, and Emmanuel House have been benefactors.
Funds must be raised to support our selected charities and this has been done both in traditional and less traditional methods. Early on, “Big Bucks” provided good results and lots of fun in the bargain. Upwards of $10,000 was raised each year. Golf Tournaments were another reliable source of funds. In 1992, the Club sponsored a Testimonial Dinner in honor of Dick Oliphant and we raised our total pledge to Polio Plus (in excess of $40,000) in this most successful community occasion. Until a few years ago “Taste of Indian Wells” was the major fund raiser. Last year club members sold beer and hot dogs at the first annual Jackie Cochran Air Show at the Thermal Airport. We'll do it again in 2005!
The Club has provided a balance of work and social time for its members. In the early days, there was a bus trip to Orange County to a dinner theatre, a bus trip to Las Vegas for wealth enhancement (not sure it worked), Christmas, Valentine and Charter Night Parties, and of course, the Annual Demotion Roast. The traditional Summer BBQs are also a high point of the year. District Conferences have provided an opportunity for more than a little levity. Some will remember the Rotary wife who was stuck on a ski lift in Big Bear for a couple of hours, or the “Love Boat on Land” Conference in Oxnard, or what seemed to be the whole Club sitting by the pool at the Hanalei Hotel in San Diego enjoying libations and singing as off key as we do at our regular meetings. No awards appear on our banner for the singing it but it was memorable and that is what counts!
And speaking of memories, no history of the Club would be complete without remembering and thanking all of those who have led us as officers and directors over the years. It was their foresight and prompting that has at times moved us from our less than secret desire to be a “knife and fork” operation to one that does have meaning to its members, its community and significance to the parent organization, Rotary International. That being said, thanks also to the probably 200 to 400 others who are now or have been a part of the Club in past years. Each and every one has contributed to its history and success. Perhaps it can all be summed up by saying a big thank you to every one who has ever worn the badge of the “Classic Club.”