THE OLD ROTA-TELLER

Sometimes you’ll hear old-timers in the Petaluma Rotary Club talk fondly of the old Rota-Teller. What was this beloved journal? What they are recalling is an actual printed periodical, sanctioned by the U.S. Post Office, and delivered weekly by their mail carrier. Sometimes it would be delivered on Saturday, just two days after a meeting. But, more often, it came on Monday.

While there were likely Club bulletins before this version, it appears that the modern printed Rota-Teller originated in 1971. Since postal regulations required that each issue of a periodical be identified by Volume and Issue number , we can count back and determine that Volume 1, Issue 1 was published in July 1971. We don’t know what Club bulletins were called from 1923 to 1971. Nor do we know when the Rota-Teller name was conceived. No doubt, it was inspired by the rototiller, the gasoline-powered garden cultivator.

THE ROTA-TELLER IN TRANSITION

With the new Millennium, modern technology began to intrude into the tradional Club scene. During the presidency of Jeannette Clark (2000-01) the Club launched a fledgling website. (Jeannette was the Club’s first woman President; big changes were afoot at the Petaluma Rotary Club!) Before long a parallel edition of the Rota-Teller became available on line. It included the text of the traditional printed newsletter but gradually introduced photographs as digital cameras became available. Ed Fullerton had one of these newfangled gadgets and contributed many of the photos that we still enjoy today.

These digital Rota-Tellers became accepted and many Rotarians opted to discontinue receiving the printed version. Finally, incoming 2006-07 President Tawny Tesconi (our third woman President!) decreed that the Rota-Teller would be digital only and that mailed distribution of the printed version would cease. The June 30, 2006 edition was the final issue sent through the mail.

WHAT WE LOST

While members enjoyed the plentiful color photos and the hyperlink capabilities of the Web version, they missed the back page of the printed version. The Rota-Teller was printed on blue 8½” by 14” paper with the front side devoted to the week’s news. The reverse side was a convenient reference tool. It contained an up-to-date roster with members’ phone numbers, a listing of Club officers, and detailed committee assignments. These are all available on the website, of course, but members missed the ready availability of a paper copy that was replenished weekly.

2017 — THE START OF A NEW ERA

The new Rota-Teller continued through June 2017. Earlier that year the Club adopted proprietary ClubRunner© software which, in addition to handling Club management functions, formatted the Club’s website and bulletin. As of July 2017 the new Rota-Teller was no more, replaced by a slick bulletin generated by software and delivered as email. Rota-Teller, you’ve come a long way, Baby! (The 2002-2017 Rota-Tellers are available for viewing in the Club Archives.