Rotary, the world’s first service club, as well as the largest, with over 1.2 million members in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, is an organization of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
The Bath Rotary is a small club with a big history. From its birth in March 1923, leaders of the community through the years have gladly donated many hours of their time and efforts to preside at the helm of the club. The Bath Rotary Club will forever be indebted to the Corning Rotary Club, specifically Frederick Carder, noted glass designer, for its drive in selling twenty-four prospective Bath Rotarians on the ideals of Rotary back in March 1923. A cross-section of leaders in several vocations of the community spent a year piloting the program. Wilson R. Campbell served as the first President of the Bath Rotary Club. Robert C. Turnbull, the second President, exemplified “Mr. Rotary” for more than forty years and kept the county seat’s Rotary Club active in community and international affairs. The first meeting for the local group took place at the Church Parish House. Since the beginning the Bath Rotarians have continued their involvement in community and international projects and have displayed dedication to the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”.