Charles J. Lindecamp: 69 years of Rotary service

A CNN news report credits Tom Brokaw for the term, "The Greatest Generation." It describes those who were born anywhere from 1901 through 1924. This was the generation of World War II. This is also the generation that gave birth to the first Rotary Club, which formed in Chicago in 1905. Its purpose was to create an opportunity for those working in a variety of different professional occupations to meet, exchange ideas and form meaningful friendships. Rotary clubs expanded, internationally, and incorporated humanitarian services, too. Charles Lindecamp, age 104, born March 24, 1919, in Jeromesville, Ohio, is a member of the Greatest Generation and has been an active member of the Milan Rotary Club for 69 years. On Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023, the Milan Rotary Club celebrated his extraordinary service. Jim Duke, the Rotary governor of District 6600 presented Charles with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He joined the club Oct. 8, 1954. At that time, he was the superintendent of Milan Schools, which later became the Berlin-Milan School District, under his leadership from 1965 to 1981. He worked in education for 41 years and retired in 1981. Upon retiring, he and his wife, Marge, traveled the U.S., Mexico and Canada. He lost Marge after 68 years of marriage in December 2011. He lives at home today, where he has resided for more than 70 years. He still attends Milan Rotary and the Milan Presbyterian Church almost every week. He is a current member and past master of the Erie Masonic Lodge. A man of character and integrity, Charles has a history of proving that age doesn't matter when it comes to furthering the cause of Rotary. For example, as an active Rotarian, he still attends the weekly Rotary meetings at Milan Presbyterian Church. In 1993, Charles was age 74. He and fellow Rotarian, Don Gfell, organized the Rotary District 6600 Conference and hosted it at Cedar Point. This was no small undertaking. While there, Dick Collingwood, a vice president of Cedar Point, gave Charlie the ride of his life on the Magnum, something he said he would not have done without Dick's encouragement. To raise money for charitable causes, Charles has always been a dedicated worker. One of Milan Rotary Club's fundraisers for many years was selling firewood. Fallen trees were given to the club, for its members to cut, split, deliver and stack. Charles was known for his ability to run the wood splitter and the chainsaw. At age 83, he actively participated in his last Rotary woodcutting day. I met Charlie when I was 20-something years old. It was around this time Rotary clubs changed the rule from being an all-male club to a club that also accepted women. I'm guessing this was around 1990. It caused a bit of an uproar within the club. Some members quit because a woman was joining their club. But not Charles. Fast forward almost 40 years, and I was invited to Charlie's 100th birthday party. When I walked up to wish him a happy birthday, he said to me, "I really appreciate you being at my birthday party, Sue. I have to tell you this: When you joined the Rotary Club, I wasn't happy about it." I replied, "I know Charles, but you still accepted me." Although, it did take some time. Please join me in applauding Charles Lindecamp for his dedication to serving his community through Rotary and his commitment to Rotary Club's four-way test for professional integrity: • Is it the truth? • Is it fair to all concerned? • Will it build goodwill and better friendships? • Is it beneficial to all concerned?