Inside 43215: Downtown Lifestyles
RODENTO-ROTARIAN
Are the results in from Groundhog Day? Have the varmints decided whether spring is in the air? Locally, it’s Buckeye Chuck who does the dirty work.
But before Buckeye Chuck – and before Punxsutawney Phil or PETA’s robot rodent replica… there was the Columbus Rotary Club Groundhog Day Committee.
True Story.
Let’s be frank, as far as being accurate predictive devices for spring, groundhogs leave much to be desired. In fact, according to former Groundhog Day Committee member Bill Milligan, groundhogs have it all catawampus. A groundhog’s retreat into a hole traditionally indicates lots more winter. He puzzles, “It comes out in the light and gets scared by its shadow? The light would seem to indicate… spring – or that spring is near.”
Decades ago, the Committee had its own system. They met for breakfast at Bob Evans on February 2, and took a vote. Whether spring was on its way was simply determined by majority rule. That’s got to be every bit as accurate as Buckeye Chuck’s system.
While there’s still plenty of room for fun, today’s Columbus Rotary Club is best known for its great charitable contributions to this city. It helps local schools, parks, impoverished communities, as well as international projects. Like the motto says, it’s all about “service above the self.”
Downtown is home to two Rotary Clubs: Capitol Square Rotary (meets in the Athletic Club of Columbus) and Columbus Rotary Club (5 E. Long Street).
Tags: Ahtletic Club of Columbus, Capital Square Rotary, columbus, Columbus Rotary Club, Downtown, Downtown Columbus