With almost 600 members, Club 29 is one of the largest Clubs in Rotary International, and it is also one of the friendliest. We welcome guests and visiting Rotarians from all over the world at our weekly luncheon meetings.
Club 29 is CONNECTED! Our programs involve internationally prominent leaders in every field and our membership represents the business and civic leaders of our community and our state. We connect with each other, our community, and with other Rotarians worldwide.
Club 29 has been serving others for more than 100 years! Oklahoma City boasted a population of only 50,000 when, in 1909, a group of businessmen organized a club with membership made up of representatives of different businesses and professions. The club took the name “Iron Cross Club.”
Lee B. Mettler, President of the Kansas City Rotary Club, visited the club in November 1910. He was struck by the similarity in the membership of Rotary with the Oklahoma City group and proposed the Oklahoma City group join the Rotary association of clubs being formed. They filed for admission to the National Association of Rotary Clubs of America on November 22, 1910. The Oklahoma City group was accepted by Rotary and a charter was issued naming the group the 29th club in Rotary as of November 7, 1911.
One of the charter members, Oklahoma City Mayor Allen Street, became the first of many District Governors to come from Club 29, and he later served as Vice President of Rotary International. In 1924-25 Everett W. Hill, a member of Club 29, served as President of Rotary International. Other early members also served for Rotary International, such as Paul Pope who was elected Vice President of Rotary International, and Daniel Ohern who served as Director of Rotary International 1929-30.
Following the 1928 Rotary convention, at which three Rotary President’s wives were all named Ann, the idea of an auxiliary organization took hold. Rotarian Virgil Browne’s wife, Mamiee Lee, proposed this organization to Club 29, and our Rotary Anns was established. That movement has spread throughout the Rotary world. Over the years our Rotary Anns have worked tirelessly to provide needy children eye exams and glasses. Their work continues through a club committee and the Oklahoma City Rotary Foundation. Club 29 vigorously supports the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”
Membership in Club 29 is fun and rewarding! Our members represent the business and civic leadership of our city and state. Membership carries responsibilities and dedication to the motto: Service Above Self.
Club 29’s Board of Directors has adopted a policy statement that the proposed member must have distinguished himself/herself in a profession or vocation, must have distinguished themselves in the community, or preferably both.
Rotary maintains a diverse membership through a vocational classification system. As a result, our membership represents varied professions. Active members and others currently occupy many of the classifications.