NILES — The Niles Rotary Club is marking the historic milestone of 100 years of serving the community and helping in other parts of the world.

The club not only celebrated its first 100 years at a gala held recently at Ciminero’s Banquet Centre in Niles, but also marked another milestone as the Niles Citizen of the Year Award was presented for the first time to a Rotarian, Jim Tallman.

Tallman is the longest serving member, with 51 years and perfect attendance.

The club was established in November 1925 and Tallman became a member in July 1974.

Belinda Weiss, club president, said while the club may be small, “the members are dynamic and do so much.”

Weiss said, “Without our members, many of the projects would not be possible. We thank the city of Niles for allowing us to do the things that we do.”

The club is involved with several projects and is planning additional ones for 2026.

“We are working with the city of Niles on Operation Pollination, with a butterfly garden at the new park area downtown,” Weiss said.

PROJECTS

The club has completed humanitarian and educational projects around the world, along with help from Rotary International.

Tallman said local projects include getting teddy bears to children who lost a parent or grandparent, getting dictionaries for local third-grade children and a polio vaccination program for children.

Tallman said the local club has also helped globally with different projects, including a well water project in Zambia, a solar cooker project in India and getting goats for families in other parts of the world for milk, meat and fertilizer.

He said the club engages in various fundraisers, including “Fly the Flag,” with 550 flags placed at homes, cemeteries and businesses in the community.

The club participates in the Niles Halloween Parade, Festival of Trees at the McKinley Memorial Museum, bike path, cemetery tree project, summer strawberry festival, youth exchange program with youth from other countries coming to the United States, and with scholarships for high school seniors.

“The Rotary Club does a lot of work, but the members have a lot of fun,ß” Tallman said. “I hope with all of your help and working together, we will continue to do better.”

TALLMAN RECOGNIZED

Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz presented the Citizen of the Year Award to Tallman.

“He has been very dedicated to Rotary and the community. We wanted to present this recognition to him for his always supporting the Niles community. He is a true asset to Niles,” Mientkiewicz said.

He said he also is very impressed by all that the Rotary Club members do and hopes it continues to grow in the years to come.

“The Niles Rotary Club has contributed so much to the Niles community. They are like my go-to group. They have had a great impact in the community, always helping and doing what they can to benefit others,” Mientkiewicz said.

Weiss said Tallman was very deserving of the award.

“He has done so much as a club member both locally and globally,” she said.

Tallman said he has perfect attendance, which included attending Rotary Club meetings in other communities when he was out of town.

“When I traveled, I always looked up when and where the local Rotary clubs were meeting and attended. That counts for the attendance,” Tallman said.

He said he always enjoyed projects that involved getting medical supplies to those in need.

“I went to India and helped with giving polio vaccines to children,” he said.

Though Tallman lives in Champion, he has a pharmacy in Niles.

“I have been associated with Niles since 1972. I joined the club in 1974 and was here for its 50th and 75th anniversaries,” he said.

While researching club archives, Tallman learned that the 25th anniversary was celebrated at Cafe 422, with tickets at $2.50. The event was technically late — because of a heavy winter storm in November 1950, it was postponed to 1951.

For the 50th anniversary celebration held at the Niles Holiday Inn in 1975, tickets were $15, $25 for the 75th anniversary event held at the Youngstown Club, and $50 at the 100th anniversary.

Tallman said it was Willis Troutman who brought him to the Rotary Club and encouraged him to become a member.

“He told me attendance in Rotary is very important. We had a club president who was very strict. If you missed four meetings in a row, you were out.” Tallman said.

Kimberly Weiss, district governor for Rotary International, said the 100-year celebration by the club is “a very momentous occasion.”

She said Ohio has 6,650 clubs in five regions, with four other Rotary clubs in the district also marking 100 years.

“I am proud of all the local and international projects the club was involved with,” Tallman said. They all helped people who could not help themselves.”

History highlights of the club include:

• The Rotary Club was chartered Nov. 19, 1925, with 16 charter members. The charter party was held Dec. 8, 1925, at Niles Christian Church.

• The club first met at the Allison Hotel, St. Luke Episcopal Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, then the First Presbyterian Church for 46 years, and from 2005 to the present at Ciminero’s Banquet Center.

• The club meets at noon on Thursdays.