The Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro (RCW) was conceived by the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro on June 3, 1969.  A nucleus  committee was then organized headed by the late PDG Dante Sarraga with Cocoy Velez, Al Mañus, Dodong Velez, Tito Nable, Ric Santos and Frank Guera as members. The resolution to organize was submitted and approved during the District Assembly held on June 13-14, 1969 in Iloilo City under the term of DG Pafs Mejia.

The Board of Directors of Rotary International approved the Charter on February 16, 1970.  Subsequently, the Charter presentation was held on June 23, 1970 at the Villa Hermosa Hotel with PDG Cocoy Velez as President and the former Congressman Luis Taruc as Guest Speaker.

The charter members included, PDG Cocoy Velez, PDG Al Manus, PP Faeling Floirendo, Rtns. Frank Guerra, Dodong Velez, Tito Nable and  Ric Santos.  

Today, the club is one of the biggest and the strongest in the district with 50 members.  More than 50% of the members  has been with the club for more than 5 years while 20% has been with the club for more than 10 years.  Eleven of its members are women and the Immediate Past President was the second woman to lead the club.

Over the years, the club became one of the most prominent club in the district producing 7 active District Governors, namely, PDG Cocoy Velez, the late PDG Bands Hernandez, PDG Al Mañus, PDG Tony Aguilar, PDG Ben Vegafria, PDG Joe Nebrao,  PP Ernie San Juan who was nominated but was not able to hold the office due to illness and now DGN Rhia Abalos, who will be the first woman governor in the District.

The club also has been one with strong family ties, having had brothers as members at one time or the other such as PDG Cocoy, PP Celing and Rtn. Puro Velez.  It also has had a mother and daughter team, PAG Rhia Abalos and Rtn. Sheryl Villarosa, same with a father and daughter team like PDG Joe Nebrao and Rtn. Rachelle and a father and son team, like PDG Al Manus and Rtn. Neil.   A second generation group, like Rtn. Ferdie Espiritu, son of the late Pete Espiritu.  In-laws like Rtn. Denvi Cabrera, mother-in-law of Rtn. Elmer Francisco.

To it’s credit the club has sponsored and organized 7 clubs namely, RC Tagbilaran, Bohol, RC El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, RC Carmen Valley, Far East, Centerpoint and the latest  RC Uptown  all in Cagayan de Oro City.

The club has hosted several District Assemblies, District Conventions, Inter-club forums, Tri-District conferences and PET’s.  Many of its members have been tapped and continually tapped as resource speakers, presentors and discussion leaders in  Rotary functions.

It has actively supported the Rotary Foundation and today it has several 4 multi Paul Harris Fellows, PHf’s and several Sustaining members.  It has likewise participated in the activities of the Rotary Foundation and the club now have  8  members who were former GSE Team members and 5 former Team Leaders, some of whom are still with the club.   

It has been able to conduct award winning projects such as the Teaching and Organizing People for Self Help (TOPS), the Search for the Most Outstanding Public/Private School Teachers Award (MOPSTA), the Search for the Outstanding Barangay, the Anti-Drug Addiction Campaign, and the Environmental protection/Save our Watershed Project.

It organized the Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro Foundation, Inc. which has continuously supported the major projects of the club.

Actively involved in community development, the club has received and successfully implemented 3 matching club grants, namely, the Peanut Production with RC Jena, Germany, the Hog Raising Project with RC Ako, Japan, and the Techno Demo Farm Project with RC Balwin, Australia. 

The first matching grant project of the club was the Peanut Raising Project with RC Jena, Germany. This involved the growing of peanut in 14 has. of land.  The project was implemented  through  the Rotary Community Corp of Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro.  In order to improve the yield, the club tapped the assistance of the Northern Mindanao Peanut Association and the City Agriculturist who provided the technical know-how and monitored the project.  The project was able to train the farmers in properly handling the crop thereby increasing their yield.

The second matching grant project received by the club was with RC Ako, Japan, this was a Hog Raising Project where 17 pig pens were distributed to the beneficiaries.  Again the beneficiaries were chosen from the members of RCC Pagatpat, the adopted Barangay of the club.  They were then provided with 4 piglets each and feeds for four months.  In return the beneficiaries provided the labor in caring for the hogs and providing food supplements in order to being the cost thereby increasing their profits.  They also supervised the slaughtering and the Club members assisted in marketing the produce.  The project was deemed successful because it was able to fatten the hogs up to a maximum of 110 kilos in 4 months.

The latest matching grant project of the club is the Techno-Demo Farm Project with RC Balwin, Australia.  The club received funds for 30 modules of drip irrigation equipment that would service 1,200 square meters of land ea.  In order to assist other clubs in the region, some of the modules were donated to these clubs.  Again, the services of the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Association and the City Agriculturist was tapped to assist in the project. They provided the technical know-how and monitored the project.   Most of the beneficiaries opted to plant sweet corn since the demand for the product was high and continues to be high.  In 90 days, the farmers are able to harvest and the members of the club assist in marketing the produce. 

VISION:
THE ROTARY CLUB OF WEST CAGAYAN DE ORO IS ENVISIONED TO BE A PREMIER CLUB, PROACTIVE IN THE DELIVERY OF EX CELLENT SERVICE

MISSION:
THE RC OF WEST CAGAYAN DE ORO WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE TOP ROTARY CLUB IN THE DISTRICT, CONSIDERING OUR SERVICE DELEVERIES IN THE AVENUES OF CLUB, VOCATIONAL, COMMUNITY AND INTERNATIONAL SERVICE.

THIS IS FOUNDED ON THE COMMITMENT AND CONTINUOUS SUPPORT OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY MEMBERS UP TO RY 2006, THE INVOLVEMENT OF THE COUNCIL OF PAST PRESIDENTS, THE TIMELY GUIDANCE OF THE PAST DISTRICT GOVERNORS IN OUR CLUB AND THE ASSISTANCE OF OUR PARTNERS IN SERVICE.

STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL PHILOSOPHY AND VALUE SYSTEM:

We believe that we can find true meaning and satisfaction in our membership only if we are consulted and involved in the service-oriented activities of the club.

That our personal conduct will influence the public perception of our Club and the Rotary Organization as a whole.

That the long term viability of the club largely depends on our continued expansion of membership by admitting new and younger members after having gone through our rigid admission procedure.

In the pursuit of Rotary’s objectives, the club finds complementing with other Rotary Clubs in the area and supporting the district leadership more effective, especially in seconding our qualified members to the district organization.

As a service organization, we are responsible in supporting the legitimate needs of our communities thru focused and integrated community projects as we relate with other entities, like other service clubs, Non-government organizations and even other government units.

Organizational procedures and policies must be strictly implemented, so that there will be continuous deepening of commitment from members. That the members be empowered and together with the club, be imbued with a passion for excellence as we conduct our Rotary activities.