Page 27 - December 2023 Gears and Ears

History of the

Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista

December 2023

When, in 1905, a Chicago Lawyer started an organization with three
business associates, he probably never dreamed that it would spread
across the world and help so many people and touch so many lives.
Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, inspired the idea of a club that
supports both business and the community. The essence of Rotary
is fellowship and through that connection, the work of Rotary
supports local, national, and international services that are dedicated
to making the world a better place. This same goal is shared by and
inspires members of The Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista.

Walt Disney was an honorary member of the Palm Springs, California Rotary Club, so it
was fitting that a club be established on the site of his new theme park in Florida. While
he did not live to see the realization of his grand dream or the founding of the new Rotary
club, in February, 1972, just months after Walt Disney World® opened, the Rotary Club
of Lake Buena Vista was chartered at the first Rotary District Conference held on the
property. As part of our charter, the club was granted the exclusive privilege and honor of
displaying the iconic mouse ears on our Rotary badges and banners.

The Club’s first president was Frank Dennison and its first Paul Harris Fellow was Keith
Johnson. The first woman to be inducted into the Club was Sara Mobley, and the first of 28
Rotary Foundation Scholars was Dawn Chesko-Grigsby. The club has had the distinction
of sponsoring more candidates selected as Rotary Foundation Scholars than any other club
in the world.

We are proud to serve as a key Rotary makeup location. It was the goal of past president
Harold Davis to make it easy and convenient to make up missed meetings for Rotarians
visiting from around the world. Since our founding, we have enjoyed a continuous stream
of visitors who come to the Disney area for both leisure and business. Over the years,
Rotarians from dozens of countries have attended our club’s weekly breakfast meeting held
every Thursday morning at 7:15 a.m. at the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista Resort located
on Walt Disney World at 1850 Hotel Plaza Blvd., Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Gears and Ears

Conceived by Publisher Emeritus Jeff Calvert
Publisher & Cover Art: Augustine Campana

Editor-in-Chief: Jean Campana
Contributors: The Rotary LBV Gears and Ears Team
Harry Boardman, Suzi Brady, David Brinckerhoff, Nanichi Calero, Matt Durfee, Dan Ehrlich,
Karen Ehrlich, Eddie Fernandez, Greg Gorski, Patti Kelly, Susan Lau, AnthonyLightman,Rommel
Mosquera, Anne Peach, Lynn Roeder, Efrain Sora, Doug Spence, and KeithWolling

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