Lancaster Rotary Club celebrates 100 years

LANCASTER - About 200 people gathered in a recently renovated The Mill Event Center in celebration of Lancaster Rotary Club's centennial.

The organization's 100th anniversary brought with it a celebration of the journey to where it is today, 100 things to make an impact at home, and a gala to celebrate those who have been there along the way.

David Uhl, Lancaster Rotary Club president, said he considered it an honor to serve as president in general, but it's especially an honor to serve as president in the organization's 100th year. He added that he's just one part of the larger team that put the gala together and celebrated its centennial year.

"It's really just an unbelievable thing to celebrate 100 years of service with more than 200 folks here tonight," he told The Gazette.

Uhl has been in the Lancaster Rotary Club for the past seven years, but Rotary Club in general for 15 years. He attributed his membership to a Rotarian he knew growing up who often talked about his service.

During the celebration, multiple people were invited to speak, including Shane Pyle, district governor, and John Germ, Rotary International immediate past president.

As district governor, Pyle told the crowd the gala was the third 100th anniversary celebration he'd attended this year, adding that Lancaster Rotary should be congratulated for reaching the milestone.

"The key to 100 years is continuing to do the good works you're doing here in Lancaster," Pyle told the crowd.

He mentioned other rotary clubs that had been forced to close their doors, but commended Lancaster for remaining relevant and continuing to make a difference in the community.

A video shown during the gala highlighted Lancaster Rotary's efforts to do 100 things for the Lancaster community this year, including the more than $35,000 in cash and donated items and more than 1,000 volunteer hours served.

Addressing the crowd, Germ thanked Lancaster Rotarians for their help in attempting to eradicate polio through their fundraising. He added that he hoped the international organization would eradicate polio in Nigeria by the end of 2018.

"Be proud of your 100 years of activity," he told local Rotarians, going on to encourage them to think about what their vision is as they celebrate.

Uhl also talked about vision, wondering aloud what's next for the organization, what challenges it will face, and at what point the organization would eradicate polio completely.

"While we won't be there, I know it will be an unbelievable celebration at the two hundredth celebration because of past Rotarians," he said.

In a toast, Michelle Ritchlin, gala chair, hoped the organization's leaders would always be wise and the Rotarians hearts would always be full of compassion.