What is Rotary?
Give Back Locally and Globally through the Rotary Club
Rotary International is a worldwide service organization that started in
1905. Rotary was founded by Paul Harris and three other local Chicago
businessmen. Their first service project was a public washroom. There are
now over 33,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide, doing good in their local
communities and globally. Each club has its own unique way of doing
things but the end goal is to have fun and do good in the world….whatever
that looks like for each club. It is made up of women and men who are
interested in making new friends, doing GOOD in the world and making a
difference to in the lives on individuals and communities around the world.
Rotaract is also a branch of Rotary for those under 30. Interact, for youth, also exists. Most people
would consider joining Rotary after their 30’s at least in North America.
In Asia for example, most Rotarians are between 30 – 45. However, in
North America it tends to be older people!
Rotary Club Projects
As far as projects, our club in Red Deer volunteers at the Red Deer Food Bank once a
month for 2 hours. Recently, our club helped fund and volunteer at the
access for all playground at Mattie McCullough School. This past year some
members went to the Philippines to volunteer and check up on shared projects
with Rotary Clubs there. I went to Guatemala to check into a project that
our club helped fund, a maternal health project. Our club is also involved
in the Youth Study Exchange Program with a student that went to Thailand and
we are currently hosting a young 16 teenager by the name of Page. The
exchange is for one year. These are just a few examples that I can think
of off the top of my head that Rotary provides to the community.
Our club recently collected women’s accessaries and purses. All the accessories that are donated are cleaned and were sold at a local event in September. Tickets were $35 each and this came with a glass of wine, dessert, entertainment and a speaker from Ghana. The speaker was flown here on points donated, another example of initiatives Rotary does.The event also had a silent
auction and of course sold all the accessories. Last year the gross
amount raised was about $38,000.00. The funds from the event are then
allotted to projects locally and globally. Some of these include, a Youth Exchange Student
that costs $6,000.00 per student.
Why be a Rotarian?
What I like best about being a Rotarian is that you meet some very nice
people and know that you are making a difference locally and globally.
My wife Sharon and I, have been very fortunate to be able to travel to many places in
the world as a result of Rotary events. You know that people are people;
they generally are nice, caring and also want to make a difference.
Become a Rotarian and give back locally and globally!
Garnet J. Ward
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