Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Eureka (California) for celebrating its 100th birthday on October 10, 2023. Over a century ago, our Club played a role in the creation of the Eureka Club.
Let's go back to June 2020 when we were on COVID-19 lockdown. I was your Club Secretary at the time and received an inquiry from Kim Bauriedel, M.D., of the Rotary Club of Eureka. He was gathering information for his club's Centennial Celebration and had a setback: the Tubbs fire near Santa Rosa had destroyed his club's archives and he wondered if our Club might be able to offer some valuable information to help him piece together his club's history. Dr. Bauriedel began with a request for information on Leo Lebenbaum. Leo is credited with organizing and creating the Rotary Club of Eureka. I contacted our own Past President Harold Hoogasian who was keeping our Club's archives, and he was able to find that Leo Lebenbaum had been a member of our Club from 1915 to 1925. Leo was a hotelier in San Francisco and had managed the Herald Hotel and later, the Wiltshire Hotel now known as the Taj Campton Place. Leo moved to Eureka to manage the Eureka Inn.
On October 10, 1923, twenty one Charter Members gathered to form the Rotary Club of Eureka at the Eureka Inn. Members from the Rotary Club of San Francisco traveled to Eureka for this important occasion. Our Club members endured two days of driving and four blown out tires to get there. The Charter was approved by Rotary International on November 9, 1923.
Dr. Bauriedel and I continued to work together until this year when his club reached its Centennial. The Rotary Club of Eureka held its Centennial Gala on October 14, 2023. Representing our Club was President Sunny Singh who drove all the way to Eureka and back without blowing out any tire. When he began his presidency, President Sunny had already met Annalise von Borstel, current President of the Rotary Club of Eureka. 
Said President Sunny, "The atmosphere at the Gala was truly festive with members and guests sharing stories, laughter, and their dedication to Rotary's ideals. It was heartening to see how the Rotary Club of Eureka had grown and thrived over the years with a legacy of service that has touched countless lives. As I delivered my speech, I felt a strong sense of unity and purpose knowing that we were all part of a global network of people committed to making the world a better place. This Centennial Celebration reminded me of the enduring impact Rotary has on communities, and it left me inspired to continue our work and strengthen our ties with fellow Rotarians. It was a night of celebration, reflection, and renewed commitment to service, and I am grateful for the experience."
President Sunny added, "I had an absolutely incredible time at the Rotary Club of Eureka's Centennial Celebration. It was a truly memorable and special event, and I felt deeply honored to have been invited as a guest and to speak as the President of our own Club. Knowing that our Club sponsored the Rotary Club of Eureka made the evening even more meaningful. The camaraderie, the sense of purpose, and the shared commitment to service that permeated the event left an indelible mark on me. It was a wonderful celebration of a century of making a difference in the community, and I'm grateful to have been a part of it."
Bert Campton, President Annalise von Borstel, and Dr. Kim Bauriedel