District District 7570 History Chicago, IL, Club No. 1 was started on February 23, 1905. In due course Chicago helped to organize the Washington, D.C. Club, which in turn organized Richmond Rotary Club, in 1913, the 69th Rotary Club to be founded. The Washington, D.C. Club also was the parent club of Nashville, TN. Among the progeny of these two clubs are nearly all the current Clubs of District 7570. The Washington Rotary Club is for nearly all of us, our grandfather or great-grandfather club. Roanoke, VA was organized by Richmond Rotary in 1914, so it is the oldest club in 7570, followed by Johnson City, TN founded by Nashville in 1916 with Lynchburg, VAand Bristol VA-TN following in 1917. Two of the clubs in 7570 were begotten by clubs not from the district. Amherst was founded in 1939 by Blackstone, which was started by Richmond; and our Grundy Club was started by Bluefield, WV. Thus only one club in the District is not descended from either Richmond or Nashville. From 1914 to 1917 four clubs organized. During the 1920 decade, twenty-five clubs were organized, our largest period of growth. The 1930s produced ten clubs, the 1940s five, and one each in the 1950, 1960 and 1970 decades. From 1983 to 1989 fourteen new clubs came into existence, while the decade of the 1990's have seen twelve new clubs join our ranks.  As of 2008 we have83 clubs (and just over 4,000 members). District 7570 started part of the 4th District of Rotary in 1914, comprising Virginia and the Carolinas. In 1923, South Carolina was removed and we became the 7th District which four years later became the 56th District when North Carolina departed. In 1937 when a bit of Tennessee was added and the eastern part of Virginia separated, we became the 186th District. The District number was changed to 275 in 1949; to 757 in 1957, and to 7570 some years later. From Greeneville, TN to Winchester, VA a distance of about 435 miles, north and south lying mostly west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, along the Shenandoah, James, Roanoke and Holston River valleys, District 7570 is truly a scenic district. Time and Interstate 81 has changed the District. Forty years ago it was a long day's drive from Greeneville to Winchester. Now it can be done in just about six hours. District 7570 supports the Rotary Foundation. Over the years, our clubs and Rotarians have contributed over $4,200,000 to the Foundation. We have over 3000 Paul Harris Fellows and are currently campaigning to sign up 2000 Sustainers to the Foundation by the year 2000. Our district has awarded over 80 Ambassadorial Scholarships and sent out 50 Group Study Exchange teams. We are been involved in several World Community Service projects and matching grants. Added to this, most of our clubs also contribute significant sums to worthwhile projects and programs in their communities. District 7570 has distinguished itself as a strong district actively involved in Rotary International. William E. Skelton of our Blacksburg Christiansburg Club is a Past President of Rotary International and Edgar C. Hatcher, Jr. of our Bristol VA-TN Club is a Past Rotary International Director. Our District was selected as one of twelve to pioneer the new District Leadership plan. Almost every year, one or more of our past district governors serve as a R. I. President's Representative to other District. Several of our members have been appointed to committees and task force groups of R. I. Past district governors of 7570 have been selected nearly every year as Training Leaders for the past ten years, for the International Assembly, held in Anaheim, CA. (Note: Based on a history written by Rotarian Hensel T. Eckman of Pulaski, District Historian from 1945 until 1965, and brought to date by District Historian Richard Hamrick of Staunton.)