Rotary District Governor Don Adams worked with our committee in planning the grand charter night dinner and celebration.  Rotary International President Raymond M. Havens notified the Club by telegram that we had been elected Club #1372.  Due to the tremendous expansion of Rotary over the last 100 years we are now in District #7980, Club #6756.  Over the years our Rotary District changed from #30 in 1923, to #199 in 1937, to #200 in 1938, to #292 in 1949, to #798 in 1957, and finally #7980 in 1991.           

The big day came on April 11, 1923.  As a member of Rotary District 30 (Vermont, Massachusetts, and Connecticut) invitations were sent to all of the clubs in the District.  The Wallingford Armory (now the Police Station on North Main Street) was obtained for the occasion. Records show that 160 men and women attended, including 50 from New Haven and many from Meriden, Waterbury and surrounding towns.  John Duncan led the singing, no doubt as enthusiastically as our own Dr. Jim Ferguson did during the 1990’s, and presented the Charter to the Club.  The official Charter from Rotary International is dated March 13, 1923 and is signed by R. I. President Raymond M. Havens and by R. I. Secretary Chesley R. Perry.  Vernon Hodges of the New Haven Club gave each of the twenty-one Charter Members a copy of the Code of Ethics.   District Governor Don Adams gave a fine address.