THE ORGIN OF THE:
Presidential Spouse's Pendant

At the 2013 Changing of the Guard event, Past President Dan McKeown’s wife, Heidi, presented the President’s Spouse Pendant to Shelley Kosmo, the wife of incoming President Jim Kosmo. This presentation continues a special and notable tradition of Rotary Club #10.

When he was being installed as Club President in 1981, Jerry Meigs realized that serving Rotary was a team effort; in particular, that he could not expect to be successful without the caring support of his wife Jean.

To recognize Jean’s contribution to Rotary for that year of his Presidency, Jerry decided to honor her with a special recognition of her spirit of Service Above Self.  In those days, Rotary was a men’s organization with no role for women. Jerry had a special pendant made for Jean and surprised her with a presentation during his Changing of the Guard ceremony.

A year later, Jean asked Jerry if he would mind her giving the pendant to another. A bit taken aback, Jerry said “Well, it’s yours.” Jean said she wanted to give it to the spouse of the next Club President to recognize her contributions to the club and her living by the Rotary spirit of service. And so a tradition was born thanks to Jerry and Jean Meigs. The pendant has been passed down ever since.  Several male Presidents have had copies of the pendant made to present to their wives in grateful appreciation of their support for Rotary.

Jean has since passed away and Jerry is overly modest in speaking about his role is this remarkable demonstration of Rotary’s Four-Way test of what we think and do, so I am writing down this important fact of our Club’s history.  In the case where we had women presidents, those women had the honor of wearing the pendant during their year.