I grew up in Temple City, California a few decades ago. As a Boy Scout I was recognized by the Rotary Club of Temple City and that was my first encounter with Rotary. I visited the club on several occasions over the years including my ‘official’ visit as district governor. As you can imagine, it was a sad day when a subsequent district governor asked for my opinion on closing the Rotary Club in the town of my youth, but I had to admit the club had declined in membership and activity to the point that it really was no longer a viable Rotary Club.
Temple City has changed in many ways from the place where I grew up. It is now a far denser population that is increasingly of Hispanic and Chinese background. Those changes are accompanied by the community losing that small town mid-century America feel; the fabric of the community is not what it used to be. The community continues to support the schools and many of the traditional events like the annual Camellia Festival. But there is a very small Kiwanis Club that seems to be following the declining path of the original Rotary Club and as far as I can see the Lions club preceded the disappearance of the Rotary Club.
It is interesting to note that a few students at Temple City High School took it upon themselves to start an Interact club at their school a year or two ago. They found a sponsor in the Rotary Club of Arcadia, but their existence clearly shows the community needs a Rotary Club. We can sit back and wait for so local residents to take up the challenge and start a new club; or we can be proactive and meet the need by re-chartering a new Rotary Club of Temple City.
District Governor Mile Petroff appointed Isaac Hung as his special representative to get that ball rolling. Isaac has already recruited John Shaw, one of the former members of the old club, to bring a little bit of continuity to the process. In addition to John Isaac has already recruited several members. He even recovered the old Rotary Club bell, badge box and lectern. So the Rotary Bell is returning to the town where I grew up.
Isaac could use you help in this effort. Do you know anyone who lives, or works, in Temple City or an adjoining community who could, should and would be a good member of the Rotary Club of Temple City? If you do, please bring them to a meeting. The first meeting of the new Rotary Club of Temple City will be at noon on May 20, 2014. The location is the Zen Buffet located at 5449 Rosemead Blvd, (corner of Rosemead and Broadway.)
You can find the Rotary Club of Temple City on Facebook and at their club website.