The Rotary Club of Oakwood, Ohio

The Rotary Club of Oakwood was chartered on August 27, 1980 through the efforts of two Oakwood residents who were then members of the Kettering Rotary Club, Don Treimann and Ed Saslow. They saw a need for a club in Oakwood and prevailed upon Bill Lambert, president of the Dayton Rotary Club to not only give up its territorial rights in Oakwood, but also to sponsor the fledgling club.

Don and Ed had to hustle to find the required 20 new members necessary to start a new club. They ended up with 23 recruits. Four of the original 23 recruits remain members of the club 25 years later: Bill Clymer, Roland 'Ike' Eichner, Harvey Pierce and Stan Herr. Membership in the club has grown since those early years to more than 130 members today.

From the beginning the club was designated a "breakfast club" and has met and continues to meet at 7:00 a.m. Friday mornings. The club originally met at the Patterson Restaurant that once stood opposite the entrance to Carillon Park on Patterson Boulevard. The club soon outgrew this location and moved to the Kennedy Union at the University of Dayton. The Kennedy Union location was ultimately outgrown and the meetings were moved to Neil's Heritage House where they were held until the restaurant closed in January of 2006. Meetings are now held at the Dayton Country Club.

In January 1988, The Rotary Club of Oakwood welcomed its first two female members, Jane Voisard and Do Winkler; both women are still active in the club today. Currently female members account for roughly 20 percent of club membership.

Charter Members: