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Nashua West Club History
The Beginnings of the Rotary Club of Nashua West, Part I
Written by charter members
Joel Saren, President #5, and David B. Fite
The Nashua Rotary Club was the most prestigious civic club in the Greater Nashua Area . The membership was large and aging. There wasn’t opportunities for new young business leaders to be participants in the Nashua Club. Whenever anyone tried to be invited to join, the club was closed because all Occupational Class were taken by someone.
Nashua Rotarians had done some creativity when new doctors or lawyers were invited. They would sub-divide occupational classes into criminal law, divorce law, etc. Doctors were now surgeons and Primary Care. Dentists were Family Dentist and Orthodontist, etc. Bankers have always been community minded, but so many Nashua bank presidents were members; even bank Vice Presidents couldn’t get into Nashua Rotary. Insurance was another problem. Some of the more senior members had “Insurance,” but others in the insurance business wanted to join, but couldn’t. Clearly there was a problem.
Nashua Rotary President Jack Atkinson saw the business community’s growth problem and proposed that Nashua Rotary investigate the possibility of spawning another Rotary Club in Nashua, West of the city. He had the support of Leon Marshall and Ken Spaulding. A strong opponent was Al Rock. So, Jack appointed Al Rock to head up the committee.
There was a press release in the Nashua Telegraph and the 1590 Broadcaster announcing an exploratory meeting at Howard Johnson’s (exit 5, where the Audi dealership is now). If memory serves, about 25 prospective members attended. Al Rock chaired the meeting and told us about Rotary, Rotary Foundation, and Nashua Rotary’s history. Leon Marshall and Ken Spaulding were in attendance, too.
Al reported back to the Nashua Board of Directors that there was plenty of potential members and much enthusiasm from the potential candidates. Present were: Jim Kesslen, (Kesslen Shoe) Leon Kesslen, (Kesslen Shoe) Frank Harvey (Nashua Trust), Paul Munroe (1590 Broadcaster) Joel Saren (Atomic Printing), David Fite (Ty-Data), Bob LaFontaine (General Floor Service) , Lane Stoudt (Stoudt Realty), Ken Jones (Ken Jones ski), Norm LaPlante (LaPlante realty), Jim McKay (Gate City Volkswagen), Gunther Mathoni (Gate City Volkswagen), Howie Nedved, Tom Osgood (Osgood Hardware), Phil Barney (IHOP), Bill Heintz, (Investments), Frank Sullivan, (Shakeys Pizza), Jack Graceffa (dentist).
Part II
How West Side Story Got Its Name
by
Charter Members: Joel Saren, President #5, and David B. Fite
When Rotary West began we were mostly young business leaders in the Nashua community. Very quickly we all became good friends. Our wives also became close friends. At Rotary West events, it was like a family event without the family turmoil (LOL).
Members and wives all participated in all the events. We played co-ed softball games against the Old Man’s Club (Nashua Rotary). We also played softball men vs women. Women won. Men had to bat opposite. (If you were righty, you had to bat lefty.) We had Rotary West t-shirts for all. Even some of our kids played in the game. I recall that Dr. Robin Guthrie, (OBGYN) played and so did his wife, Mae as well as his son. We enjoyed each other’s company very much. We socialized with other Rotary West members. We even chartered a bus to take us all to the Boston Garden to see the Celtics. Members, wives, children and friends came.
I remember on the drive to Boston, I sat next to (Charter member) Paul Munroe. I didn’t know Paul all that well, except that he worked for 1590 Broadcaster and WSMN radio. During the drive Paul and I chatted about all types of things. I asked Paul about where he was before he came to Nashua. Paul began to reveal his background and time in Hollywood, California.
He told me that he had worked on many early TV shows: Specifically the Morey Amsterdam Show, and the Jerry Lester Show. He shared stories about many Hollywood stars, I had only read about. Hearing about his background was amazing and so interesting. The bus ride ended too soon as we talked about his time in Hollywood and the people he knew, the TV shows he was involved with, and the plays and movies he collaborated on. At some point Paul just stopped recalling those days and said, “You know Joel,” West Side Story” would be a good name for our newsletter. So Paul should get the credit for coming up with the name “West Side Story.” The name “West Side Story” has survived the test of time.
Prior to the wonderful and appropriate name “West Side Story” we had experimented with other chided names. At first we tried to tease the Nashua Rotary and their newsletter – “SMILE” so we called our first newsletter “SMIRK.” Eventually, our Board of Directors approved the name “West Side Story.” That’s how our West Side Story got its name.
Footnote about Paul Munroe. Paul had his degree in engineering, but that was not readily known. At some point he left his job at WSMN and took a job SWEEPING FLOORS at Nashua Corporation from midnight to 8am. Paul told me that one day, one of the Nashua Corporation owners was walking the shop floor and saw fellow Rotarian Paul sweeping the floor !!!! Mr. Carter (Nashua Rotary) asked Paul why he was there sweeping floors. Paul said he needed a job. Mr. Carter put Paul to work in his field of study as an engineer.
Part II, The first Board of Directors meeting, dealing with growth.
Part III, Who named West Side Story.
Part IV, How Spaghetti City got its name
Part V, 1976 bi-centennial celebration
Part VI, The Balls in the Mall