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Rotary bids city goodbye - for now

Parking concerns have prompted the club's decision to hold weekly luncheon meetings at Belleair Country Club.

By GRACE CHENG
Published July 7, 2005

CLEARWATER - Clearwater Rotary Club is moving - out of Clearwater.

But just temporarily, said James McArthur, club president. Beginning Wednesday the club's weekly luncheon meetings will be held at Belleair Country Club. McArthur said the club voted for "a change of venue" because parking at the Harborview Center, where the club's 134 members have been meeting for the last seven years, was inconvenient.

Mayor Frank Hibbard and City Manager Bill Horne said they were disappointed in the club's decision.

"I think the Clearwater Rotary Club ought to meet in Clearwater," Hibbard said.

Horne, a member of the Clearwater Rotary Club, said he was not present at the meeting when the club voted to meet in Belleair, and said the change was a surprise.

"I would have voted to retain (the club) at the Harborview," Horne said.

McArthur said members used to park on the second deck of the center, but the weight of the vehicles caused the ceiling of the exhibit hall below to leak, so cars are no longer allowed to park there. The deck will be permanently closed to cars.

"(Parking) became rather inconvenient," McArthur said.

McArthur said some members had to park a few blocks away and since the center could not guarantee the club enough parking spaces, the Rotary Club did not renew its lease.

McArthur said the club has put together a task force to look for a new location to meet in Clearwater. He said Hibbard contacted him to express disappointment when he heard the club was changing locations, and suggested other venues in town, such as Island Way Grill and First United Methodist Church. McArthur said those two locations were not viable.

"I said I'm sorry, but we are still dedicated to Clearwater," McArthur said. "We've been in Clearwater for 85 years. Just because we're moving doesn't mean we're any less devoted to Clearwater."

The club hopes to find a new permanent location in Clearwater by the end of the year. McArthur said it is looking at several sites. "In no way was (the change in location) sending any kind of message to anybody," McArthur said.

[Last modified July 7, 2005, 01:01:15]