By Herman Giethoorn – Special to the Sydenham Current
What is Rotary?
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service, encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world.
More than 1.22 million Rotarians belong to more than 32,000 clubs in 168 countries.
Paul Harris formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905. Rotary’s name came from the group’s early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members.
Rotary’s popularity quickly spread throughout the United States. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents, and the organization adopted the name Rotary International a year later.
Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need.
The Rotary Foundation was started in 1928. Today, contributions to The Rotary Foundation support a wide range of humanitarian grants and educational programs that enable Rotarians to bring hope and promote international understanding throughout the world.
In 1985, Rotary made a historic commitment to immunize all of the world’s children against polio.
Working in partnership with nongovernmental organizations and national governments through its PolioPlus program, they were later joined by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotary has contributed more than $1.5 billion and countless volunteer hours to fight polio.
Through 2018, every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched two-to-one by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation up to $35 million a year.
Today, polio is almost completely eradicated.
Other international service programs in developing countries include helping to improve literacy and basic education, working to provide safe, clean water, improving sanitation, improving health care, and the advancement of international understanding, peace and goodwill.
Rotary Club of Wallaceburg
The Rotary Club of Wallaceburg was chartered on June 15, 1945, with Herbert W. Burgess as Charter President.
During 1946, the club pledged $1,500 for Woodeden Camp for children with disabilities near London, and started the first annual Easter Seal campaign for the Wallaceburg area. They also started the annual $10 banquet with proceeds going towards children with disabilities.
During the 1950-1951 Rotary year, the Happycraft building on Elizabeth St. was started as a home and meeting place for children with disabilities in the community.
This building is now the home of Wallaceburg Rotary.
The club has also pledged numerous donations to the Sydenham District Hospital and later to the CKHA, including the C-K Physician Recruitment campaign, the MRI campaign, the Sydenham X-ray equipment and many others.
The club continues to support many local and worldwide community services, including:
– Adult Literacy Program – our own program to help adult students develop their skills in reading and writing, math, and anything else they need to help them function better in the community.
– Rotary Youth leadership Awards (RYLA) – sponsoring several high school students each year to develop their leadership skills
– Active Christians With A Mission (ACWAM) – missions to Haiti several times a year to build schools, etc.
– ACWAM we sponsor a Haitian medical student to become a doctor in Haiti
– The Soup Cellar – free weekly community meals at Knox Presbyterian Church
– Mom’s Baby Cupboard at St. James Church – providing baby food and supplies to mothers in need.
– Lend-A-Hand Breakfast Club – providing breakfasts for students in need
– Free Community Meals – providing the rolls for free meals, sponsored in rotation by several local churches
– Polio Draws – we have raised and continue to raise thousands for polio eradication
– Many other service projects by other groups or individuals
The Rotary Club of Wallaceburg meets at the Rotary Happycraft Building, 507 Elizabeth Street, Wallaceburg on Thursdays at 6:15 p.m. To learn more about Rotary, please talk to any Rotarian or contact president Sussan Londry, 519-627- 3955 or Secretary Herman Giethoorn, 519-627-1788.
