History Corner – Kenneth Brooks DG 1979-1980

Recently, Jason Beever found a cache of Rotary material that his mom Jane Beever had saved, possibly from her time as club Secretary. Included was a metal box that contains items from Kenneth Brooks’ term as District Governor.

 

Kenneth Brooks was the second District Governor from the then Westbrook Rotary Club (Philip Stultz served 1958-1959). At that time, we were part of District 779 and the RI theme for that year was “Let Service Light the Way”.  It was also the 75^th Anniversary of Rotary.

 

On July 25, 1979, a brief article appeared in Le Nouvelliste, a local newspaper in Quebec that is still in print. It shows immediate PDG Louis-Phillipe Matte (L), along with Guy Reynolds (R), President of the local Rotary Club in Trois-Rivieres PQ, along with Kenneth Brooks (center).  This was taken during the annual DG tour of clubs.

 

 

Later in that Rotary year, the Westbrook Club was host club for the annual District Conference held at The Balsams in Dixville Notch, NH.

 

 

Included in the program were photos of folks important to the conference, including three Westbrook Rotarians.  Note the great photo of a very young Frank Emery, then club President, who is still a member of our club today!

 

 

Near the end of his term in April 1980, Kenneth and his wife Dena were guests at an event in Hampton Beach NH.  One of the hosts took and sent along this photo of the couple.