Sayville Rotary's First Year 1937-1938
About Our Sayville Club
Sayville Rotary was granted its Charter on April 2, 1937. There were 26 Charter members and the first meeting was held at the Kensington Hotel which stood then on the northeast corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue in Sayville. Meetings continued there for many years. Grover Silliman, M.D. was the first club president and William Weinberg the first club secretary. The Bivalve was the name of its newsletter and its first issue appeared on August 14th. It got its name from the local shellfishing industry which was prominant in the community at that time. For its first community service projects the club marched in the local Armistice Day Parade, held a Boys Christmas Party and honored the High School Track Team for its Championship season. As a vocational service two Sayville High School seniors were given Rotary Awards for Music and Art. Even in those early days fun was always had by using a club sergeant to fine members. A spinning wheel was used for raising fines. But, having a birthday or missing a name button also was cause to be fined. For those who came late there was a silk "stove pipe" hat to be worn. The annual dues were a fraction of today's at $15.00 per year - but, that was a lot of money during what were still Depression years. (Source: The Millennium Project-A History Of The Sayville Rotary Club 1937-2000)