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For information about the Grand Rapids Litho Club, please call:
Ed Riggs at 910-575-0399
A History of the
LITHO CLUB OF GRAND RAPIDS
Grand
Rapids, Michigan
The first organizational meeting of the Litho Club of Grand Rapids was held on Monday, Sept. 29, 1958 at the Pantlind Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI with eight representatives of local companies in attendance.
Joe Stevens chaired the meeting which was to determine how much interest there was in organizing a Litho Club in Grand Rapids and to learn the proper procedure to form such a club.
Mr. W. O. Morgan of the Chicago Club and organizer for the National Association of Litho Clubs (NALC) spoke to the group. Mr. John Murphy from Lithomaster Co. of Detroit and National Treasurer (NALC) answered questions from the group.
Bruce Bivens was named chairman and Ray Vollink, secretary for the organizational meeting. It was agreed to send survey cards to prospective members to determine the interest for a Litho Club in Grand Rapids.
Those attending the first meeting were:
- Bruce Bivens, Dickinson Bros.
- Fernando Cioni, Waddell Printing
- E. Kastel, National Color
- Don Richie, Michigan Litho
- Joseph Stevens, National Correct Color
- R. C. Venema, Venema Typesetting & Litho
- Ray Vollink, The Jaqua Co.
- Chas. B. Waddell, Waddell Printing
On Jan. 12, 1959, a letter was sent to all people known to be active in the Grand Rapids litho industry. Twenty three people answered and became charter members of the Lithographer's Club of Grand Rapids.
The Rocket Restaurant at 420 Stocking Ave. was selected as the meeting place, Don Richie was elected as first president as he and Joseph Stevens were the prime movers in the organization.
The third Tuesday of each month from Sept. through May was chosen as the meeting night. Dues were set at 810 a year with a $5 initiation fee. The delicious steak meals cost $3.50 at that time.
The Constitution was presented in April of 1959. On June 13, 1959 the Charter was received at the NALC Convention in Minneapolis, Minn.
The 1959-60 season got off to a start with a bus trip to Allied Paper Mills, Bryant Division, Kalamazoo, MI on Sept. 22.
On Jan. 19, 1960, John Murphy, VP of NALC, installed the new officers and presented members with Senefelder pins:
- President - Ray Volink
- Secretary - Joseph Stevens
- Treasurer - Don Ferwerda
- Sergeant-at-Arms - Mark Lohr
Most of the meetings were educational this first full year with speakers from corporations representing graphic arts products and services. A 59-Book Library of technical books was established. In May the first Ladies Night at Greenridge Country Club was held and this became an annual event. In September, the Club visited the Grand Rapids Printing Ink Co.. The balance of the year's dinner programs were at the Rocket Restaurant with topics on Paper, Ideas, Film, Equipment, Panel discussions, Color Seps., Register Systems, Color Proofing, Screens, among others.
A special event on Oct. 17, 1961 was a trip to Greenville, MI to see the transition from letterpress to offset at the Daily News.
In 1962 programs included Photo Composition, Densitometry, Setting Roller Pressures on Press, A "New Products" Night and a program by the late Rae H. Goss on the "Last 10 Years Happenings"
At this time combined meetings were established with Detroit and Ann Arbor Clubs at a central location in Lansing.
Officer Installation each year are often performed by officers from the NALC.
The NALC Mid-Year established a Rae H. Goss biannual Scholarship of $500 at the mid-year in St. Louis, Jan 26-27, 1968.
The Litho Club and the Grand Rapids Craftsmen's Club continue to hold a Gala International Printing Week Banquet each year with well-known speakers, local and national. In 1972 the Club named their first "Lithographer of the Year"
The Board of Governors annually approve sending the President and First Vice President to the NALC Conventions, with the President also attending the Mid-Year Meeting.
In 1969 a Junior Litho Club was established and it lasted for a number of years.
A trip to Kellogg's in Battle Creek took place on April 21, 1970.
In February 1970, the club voted to change the meeting night to the third Thursday of the Month, beginning in September of 1970.
On October 21, 1971 the Club, accompanied by the Grand Rapids Craftsmen, traveled to Chicago to tour the NuArc plant.
A series of mini-seminars was presented in early 1973. Also in 1973 the Grand Rapids Litho Club was awarded the Litho Club of the Year Trophy. On Sept. 20, 1983 Roger Hawks gave a Readers Digest approach to OSHA. On Oct. 18, 1973 members joined a "Mystery Field Trip" in which the bus left Grand Rapids at 2:00 p.m. and when they arrived at their secret destination, they were in Niles, MI to visit the Simplicity Pattern Co.-Presses 101 inches wide and 90 inches around.
The April 1974 combined meeting with Ann Arbor and Detroit Clubs had Astronaut Jack Lousma as its speaker.
Embarrassment in November 1974-Monthly bulletins were found still on the floor at the mailer's the morning of the meeting. Don Ferwerds and Sally DeHaan phoned all the members they could reach.
In May, 1977 an Annual Steak Fry was instituted. Soon after the Annual Golf Outing with Banquet became yearly highlights.
In 1982-83 the club established a yearly Scholarship of $500 for students in the Graphic Arts and worthy recipients are chosen with the help of Ferris State University Graphic Arts Department. In addition in 1993-94 the club, along with the Grand Rapids Craftsmen and In-Plant Management Association supported the formation of the West Michigan Graphic Arts Endowment Scholarship Fund, an endowment fund where the principle donations will never be spent as only the interest on those funds will be awarded as scholarships to deserving graphic arts students.
From this time on the yearly programs continue in the traditional pattern with technical programs September, October and November, a December Gala Christmas Ball, International Printing Week Banquet in January, technical programs and occasional field trips in February, March, April, a May Steak Fry with Installation of new officers to comply with the NALC request for uniformity in calendar years, and lastly the August Golf Outing/Banquet.
Among local Graphic Arts attractions for plant tours are Amway's In-Plant Printing Facility, X-Rite a manufacturer of color measuring devices, Grand Rapids Printing Ink, Ferris State University Graphic Arts Department., Paper Mills, Roller Manufacturers, and a little farther away, the Chicago Printing Expos.
The club membership has gone from 68 in 1958-60 to over 120 at present. The learning continues, there's fellowship and fun, and the printing industry is getting more technical, more automated, more digital and the programs are keeping pace with it all.
All through these years, the Grand Rapids Litho Club has been fortunate to have as its organizer and leader Mr. Joseph Stevens. Mr. Stevens is a craftsman of the first degree, a maker of graphic arts instrument and processes, a worker for the local club and the National organization, on College Boards, and civic and religious groups, a gentleman and a lastly friend of this author.
In close, the Litho Club of Grand Rapids has evolved, grown and prospered in the thirty seven years since it's initial founding in 1958. We celebrate the fifty year anniversary of the National Association of Litho Clubs and look with pride and promise to the next fifty years.
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