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About Our
District
Rotary
District 5190 encompasses the California Mother Lode,
Northeastern California and the vast area of Northern Nevada.
The District size is roughly 80,000 square miles and includes a
wide diversity of terrain and climates.
As of June, 2007, there were approximately 2,700 club members
in 52 active clubs and 1 provisiional club (due to charter in
mid 2007). 31 of the clubs are in California and 22 clubs are in
Nevada.
A History of Rotary District 5190: 1915-2007
In 1915 officers of Rotary International recognized the need
for more efficient administration of the rapidly growing,
geographically widespread number of clubs being chartered. A
worldwide division into Rotary Districts resulted. District 13
was comprised of clubs from California, Nevada, Arizona, New
Mexico and Hawaii. Henry Brunnier of the Rotary Club of San
Francisco was elected District Governor of District 13 for the
Rotary year 1915 -1916. Brunnier was followed in 1916-1917 by
Homer Sumption of the Rotary Club of San Diego. The Rotary Club
of Reno, the oldest club in present-day District 5190, was
chartered under Sumption's governorship.
Then, in 1918 the designation of District 13 was changed to
District 23. Chartering of new clubs was relatively slow in
these early years because the central office believed a service
area population of at least 30,000 was necessary in order for a
club to exist and function successfully. Eventually, when RI
removed this requirement, growth accelerated. In 1922 the
designation changed again, from District 23 to District 2. This
district was now made up of clubs from California, Nevada,
Hawaii and Mexico. Now the chartering of new clubs exceeded all
expectations, and as a result District 2 was split into five
districts in 1937. Northern California and Nevada became
District 105. Growth continued, and many new clubs were
chartered in Northern California as well as three more in
Nevada.
After 10 years, in 1947, it was time for another division of
the district. District 109 was split from District 105 and
boundaries were reduced. Although the District 109 designation
lasted only two years, six new clubs were chartered, including
two in Nevada, during this period. Rotary International again
changed designations in 1949 and former District 109 became
District 164. We remained 164 until 1957, when continued growth
of the district necessitated division once more. The district
was split with Northern California being divided. The new
district, number 519, now included the northeastern part of
California from Walnut Grove on the south to the Oregon border
and all of Nevada except for the southern tip (Las Vegas). In
1957 District 519 was comprised of 51 clubs with a total of 3315
members. During the ensuing years the chartering of new clubs
in District 519 continued at a moderate pace. Also, a minor
boundary change on the western edge of the district brought in
two existing clubs, Gridley and West Sacramento.
By 1987 the district had grown to 64 Rotary Clubs, and it was
becoming increasingly difficult for District Governors to
perform their required duties in the time frame prescribed by
Rotary International. Throughout the United States the
proliferation of clubs had resulted in more and smaller
districts. District 519 was now geographically one of the
largest in the United States. A proposal to divide into two
districts with 33 clubs in one and 31 clubs in the other was
approved by the RI Board of Directors in 1988. However, a
campaign by dissenting clubs was successful, and a poll of all
clubs in the district resulted in a rejection of the split.
Additional new clubs were chartered, and in 1990 a new proposal
for splitting was put before the clubs of District 519 which now
numbered 69 clubs with 4,456 members. This proposal divided the
district along the ridge of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, but
this was also rejected by the club members. In early 1991, the
RI Board of Directors changed the district numbering system from
three digit designations to four. District 519 became District
5190 in July, 1991. Club extension committees continued to be
successful, and new clubs were chartered throughout the
district.
Finally, a division meeting the approval of all clubs was
proposed. New District 5180, comprised of 34 clubs in the
Sacramento, Marysville/Yuba City and Oroville areas, was split
off from 5190. Now, District 5190 was reduced to 46 clubs (45
after Lake Tahoe Southeast was disbanded). The district included
most of Nevada, as before, and the foothill and mountain areas
of Northeastern California. This division was effective July 1,
1995. Although the number of clubs in District 5190 was reduced,
the geographical size still remains the largest in the 48
contiguous states. Much of the earliest history of our district
is now in the archives of other districts of which we were once
a part. But District 5190 has a proud heritage. Support of the
Rotary Foundation has always placed us among the highest
districts. A total of $1,400,000 was raised for Polio Plus, far
in excess of the ambitious goal of $1,104,000. District 5190
ranked among the five highest districts in the world in support
of the Benefactor Program in 1988, and this support continues.
The Clubs in our District have continuously been involved in
international programs through World Community Service and the
Foundation. We have participated with countries in Africa, Asia,
Central and South America, Fiji, Russia and Romania.
Activities and programs for youth have always generated great
interest and financial support from District 5190. Each year,
approximately 50 students participate in Rotary Youth Exchange
attending school and enjoying the hospitality of our Rotary
Clubs.
Our first RYLA Camp was held in 1988 and this program continues
to grow, involving many young people from throughout the
District. We also have Interact programs sponsored by several of
our Clubs.
The Group Study Exchange Program has been another Foundation
Program strongly supported by the District. This program,
involving successful non-Rotarian business and professional
people, has seen District 5190 sending groups to and receiving
groups from, many countries around the world.
Each year District 5190 sends scholars abroad for a year or
more of study under the Foundation Scholarship Program. Generous
membership support of the Rotary Foundation has enabled our
district to make all of these programs available in our
communities.
The once controversial issue of female membership in Rotary is
now a distant memory. In 1987, Georgia Schultz was the Charter
President of the Rotary Club of Ione. Since then, several of our
clubs have elected women presidents. In 1997-1998 Lydia Frenzel
served as our first woman District Governor.
For many years, Sparks, Nevada was the traditional location for
the District 5190 annual District Conference. George Ticknor,
first District Governor of the most recently defined district,
broke with tradition in 1995-1996, and the conference was held
in Elko, Nevada. It returned to Sparks in 1997. The District
Conference was held at Lake Tahoe in 1998 and 1999, at Tahoe
City in 2000, and back to Reno in 2001. The 2002 Conference was
held in Sparks, 2003 conference was held at the Atlantis in
Reno. 2004 conference was held at Granlibakken, Tahoe City. The
2005 conference was held at the Reno Hilton, while the 2006 &
2007conferences were held at the Nugget in Sparks, with the 2008
being held at the Peppermill in Reno.
The history of District 5190 is a history of the growth of
Rotary, which in recent years has been through the chartering of
sunrise or sunset Clubs. 2006-07 saw two new clubs chartered;
the latest club of Winnemucca will charter in mid 2007. More new
clubs are expected to continue. |
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