A suburb of Milwaukee, West Allis had its formal beginning in 1906. Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2006, the community progressed from a busy agricultural hamlet to an important industrial city.
In the early 20th century immigrants from central and southern Europe joined the original settlers to build a vibrant manufacturing community.
The city took its name and identity for much of the last century from Allis-Chalmers, the manufacturing behemoth of mining, milling, agricultural equipment, and steam turbines. Allis-Chalmers moved from Milwaukee to West Allis in the early 1900's
In 1987, Allis-Chalmers went bankrupt, creating problems of monumental proportions for the community and its residents. With foresight and ingenuity, city officials, community leaders, and developers have transformed West Allis into a community with a healthy blend of manufacturing, retail, office, and service workers.
The recent transformation of the community is not unlike the efforts of the original community founders who had a dream and worked diligently to make the dream become a reality.
The Rotary Club of West Allis was chartered as club number 2543 in April of 1927. The club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, the first Rotary club in the District. The club had 17 charter members. Charles Pendock was the club's first president. Ten years later he served as Governor of District 132 which later became District 6270. The Rotary Club of West Allis today has 61 active members living the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self."
District 6270 of Rotary Internation is a group of 58 Clubs with 3600 members located in Southeastern Wisconsin. The clubs represent 41 communities, ranging in size from the largest city in the state, Milwaukee, to the rural community of Princeton. The founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, was born in the city of Racine in 1868, a community in district 6270. The first club in District 6270 was established in Milwaukee in 1915. More information about District 6270 can be found at www.rotary6270.com.
From the Rotary International web site:
"Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas."
"Rotary club membership represents a cross-section of the community's business and professional men and women. The world's Rotary clubs meet weekly and are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds."
"The main objective of Rotary is service — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and hunger, the environment, illiteracy, and violence. They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals, and vocational and career development. The Rotary motto is Service Above Self."
More information about the history of Rotary International can be found here.