Osterville Men's Club

Wesley F. Rennie 

                                                     

Last time we discussed the founding in 1957 of the Osterville Men’s Club. After libations at the Fox Hole, lunch was served at Wimpy’s across the street. When the scheduled speaker didn’t appear, Dr. Wesley F. Rennie presented a thought-provoking address on education, totally without preparation.  

In 1966 the Rennie Current Events Discussion Group, led by Dr. Wesley F. Rennie, began by offering topical discussions in such subjects as politics, economics, social problems, and international affairs. It proved to be a popular event sponsored by the Osterville Men’s Club and the name was changed in 1975 to the Wesley F. Rennie Discussion Group. This popular event is held at the Osterville Village Library on the Tuesday after the monthly meeting from September to May at 10:15 AM

But who was he? Wesley Frederick Rennie (1893-1974) was born in Michigan and educated in Illinois and in the State of Washington. He was married to Zura Mae Karshner Rennie. He was associated for many years with the YMCA, which had been founded in 1844 by George Williams to provide a refuge for young men in London. The YMCA of Greater Seattle (YGS) was a pivotal group that pioneered social services including housing, meals, vocational training, and education to prepare boys and young men for life. Under Rennie’s leadership as director, YGS addressed the growing need of a redlined, segregated Seattle in Black and Asian communities and opened branches throughout Seattle. He achieved success and in 1949 The New York Times reported that Rennie “has been appointed executive director of the Committee for Economic Development… The group is a non-profit research organization of leading businessmen and educators. Mr. Rennie was general secretary of the Y. M. C. A. from 1933 to 1947.”

The Rennie’s retired in 1956 and moved to Oyster Harbors in Osterville, but two years later he was appointed to serve as interim president of Springfield College in Massachusetts from 1957 to 1958. Founded in 1885, Springfield College focuses on educating students—in spirit, mind, and body—for leadership in service to others. He said ''I'm new at this field in a sense, but at the same time, I've had long experience in the fields that these youths are preparing for."

The current chairman of the Rennie Discussion Group is Bob Callahan (508) 681-0242 and his email is debandcal@yahoo.com