History

Rotary Club of Birmingham, Sunrise

In February, 1986, the Rotary Club of Birmingham decided to sponsor a new Rotary Club to meet on a weekly basis at breakfast time in downtown Birmingham. It was the consensus view of the membership of the Rotary Club of Birmingham that there was a need for such an additional club in the downtown area, and that a breakfast meeting might form the basis for an excellent make up opportunity for its own members as well as members of others Rotary Clubs in the Birmingham area. Based on this initial desire, and with the support of the District Governor's office for District 6860, W.T. Goodloe Rutland, Chairman of the District Extension Committee, held a meeting of charter members of the new club on Thursday, February 27, 1986. This meeting was the basis for the formation of The Rotary Club of Birmingham - Sunrise. Subsequent meetings were held and actions taken to complete an application and list of charter members for submission to Rotary International for approval and issuance of a charter to, The Rotary Club of Birmingham - Sunrise. After much effort by the District Governor, Henry Graham, together with the assistance of Mr. Rutland and members of the new club, The Rotary Club of Birmingham - Sunrise was granted its charter by Rotary International on June 23, 1986. A charter night to celebrate the event was sponsored by The Rotary Club of Birmingham on July 22, 1986, at The Harbert Center. The Sunrise charter membership, which consisted of 52 individuals, has almost tripled in size since July, 1986.

The Club's territory in accordance with the requirements of Rotary International and its founding club consists basically of the territory within the boundaries of I-65 on the westerly side from the interchange of I-59 to 10th Avenue, South, east to Five Points South, Highland Avenue, Key Circle, across Red Mountain to 42nd Street, north on an easterly boundary to take in U.S.Pipe, Jim Walter, and Sloss Furnace to 11th Avenue, North, and back to I-65 along 11th Avenue, North.

The earliest meetings of the Club were at the South Central Bell Cafeteria (6th Avenue, North and 19th Street). The Club moved its meetings to The Harbert Center commencing in July, 1986, as noted the club membership rooms at The Harbert Center to the presently occupied space.

The Rotary Club of Birmingham - Sunrise has been active in community and related activities since its formation. In fact, during its first several months of operation, the club sponsored an out-of-town speaker who visited several of the local schools to talk about drugs and alcohol abuse and related problems. During its first year of existence, the club was successful in sponsoring a Rotary scholarship recipient. Additionally, the club was actively involved in support of Magic Moments, a local organization which raises money to grant wishes to chronically ill children. For several years, the club raised significant sums of money for the Magic Moments fund-raising banquet. Finally, in gratitude for the club's ability to meet at The Harbert Center, the club donated certain portable audio-visual equipment to the Harbert Center for use in rooms other than the main meeting room where a permanent audio-visual station exists.