'20 Atlantic City

The 11th Convention – Atlantic City, NJ June 21-25 with 7,213 in attendance

Between June 21st and 25th, 1920, Rotary met in Atlantic City, New Jersey and thus the first city outside of our First 100 hosted the Rotary Convention. 664 Clubs were represented with a total registration of 7,213.

Visitors were welcomed to Atlantic City by Charles H Godfrey of the host Rotary Club and President Adams’ post-war address quoted Isaiah’s message to the Jews – “And thou shalt be called the repairer of the breach; the restorer of paths to dwell in.” Gundaker’s Publicity Committee offered a vision of Yesterday – an Idea; Today – a Reality; tomorrow – a Vision.

Only Paul Harris’ words were present at the 1920 Convention. “The ‘service way’ out of difficulties is the constructive way, therefore Rotary has ever been constructive.” He ended with the Golden Rule of “All things whatsoever ye would that man should do unto you, do ye even so unto them”.

This Golden Rule was the 11th duty for Rotary’s Code of Ethics at the time.

Ches Perry embarked on a tour of Britain in 1920 in preparation for the first overseas Convention to be held in Scotland the following year. According to Estes Snedecor, the Edinburgh Convention had been planned over many, many years.

Perry also reported an interesting point that could have been written in 2002: “The clubs which I visited, and perhaps others, should make it a point to add to their membership some worthy younger business and professional men so that the average age may be brought down as it now appears rather high in most cases”.