Looking back at the momentous 1917 Rotary Convention in Atlanta, it is difficult to see what could have been contentious about the words of then-President Arch C. Klumph: “It seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world.” Yet, at the time, support for the idea was far from unanimous. Some thought an endowment fund would create more trouble than it was worth. But Klumph’s idea received the support it most needed in the form of an initial donation of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Mo.
Nearly 100 years later, we recognize Klumph’s idea as not only visionary, but revolutionary: It set in place the mechanism that allowed Rotary to become the vast force for “doing good in the world” that it is today.
In many ways, our Rotary Foundation is the foundation of Rotary as we know it. It has created a mechanism for cooperation and partnership among clubs and between Rotary and other organizations; it has enabled us to be ever more ambitious in our work and to reach for goals of historic proportions, such as the eradication of polio. It is impossible to quantify the good that has been done over the last century as a result of The Rotary Foundation. All we can know for sure is that Arch Klumph, if he could see it, would be proud.
I am looking forward to seeing many of you at our international convention in Atlanta: the city where our Foundation was born. I hope a record number of Rotarians will be there to celebrate the centennial of our Foundation. In the meantime, there are plenty of other ways to celebrate! I encourage you to read more about the Foundation centennial at centennial.rotary.org. There, you’ll learn about the history of our Foundation and find ideas for events and projects in your clubs and your community.
One of the most important ways we are celebrating the Foundation centennial is with a fundraising goal of $300 million. Your gift to your Foundation is the best way of ensuring a strong second century for Rotarians Doing Good in the World and for Rotary Serving Humanity.
Humble Rotary's Jr. Rotarian program is introduced by Bonnie Longnion and Corey Turner. This program, which is a recognition and leadership program, will introduce 12 High school seniors into the principals of Rotary. Two seniors were selected from each of the six high schools. The selection process was based on academic achievement, community service, leadership in school and community activities... and recommendation from each of their principal's or counselor. This program is different from Interact, which is a great program, in that these individuals have been selected to participate in the program. The mission of the program is to provide a sense of the guiding principles of Rotary integrity, fairness, honesty, goodwill and respect through community service, fellowship and leadership activities among the youth.
These outstanding youngsters will go thru a program of orientation which will include four meetings, a community service day and write an essay about the Four Way Test. Completion of this process will be recognition at a club meeting.
Humble Rotary welcomes 7 of the 12 outstanding seniors of Humble ISD that were selected thru a thorough selection process. Pictured from left to right are Noah Amar, Kayla House, Fernanda Lago, Elyse Sannago, Rotarians Bonnie Longnion and Corey Turner, Nia Daughtry, Logan Brabson and Brandon Casper. Carla Godoy, Gregory Mika, Akriti Keswani, Puja Bhati and Arian Watson were not present due to other commitments.
Each of the students gave a brief bio of their activities and educational objectivities. They also shared what they wanted to achieve in the Jr Rotarian program. They are all eager to learn from each other and from the networking with Rotarians. They are very impressive individuals.
Rotary Foundation started with a contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri . It was not officially named until 1928 at the annual convention in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Look where we are and what we are doing to serve the needs of the worldwide community. Well done Arch Klumph.
Our Zone Candidate for Rotary Alumni Service to Humanity Award Dr. Isis Mejías from Houston. Bill Davis, Humble Rotarian and District 5890, is pictured with Isis.
It is time to begin signing up for our annual trip to Nicaragua to distribute the shoe boxes ( Christmas gifts ) to our students in Nicaragua. Attached are copies of our Trip Letter and Sign-up sheet.
PLEASE note that for the first time we will be going in JANUARY rather than the usual December time for the trip. Because the Nicaragua customs clearance has now three times delayed processing our shipment of the gift boxes which has made them too late for us to deliver them, we have moved the trip to JANUARY to avoid this problem.
I hope that you can plan on going with us this year. Many people have clanged their e-mail addresses and I have not received replacements for them, so please share this trip notice with any one that you think might consider going and also please announce this information to your Rotary Clubs to that more people get the word.
In order to get ALL the information it is necessary to read BOTH attachments.
I am looking forward to seeing you on our trip this year. I will send out a copy of the detailed trip itinerary to all who have signed up after the December 1st deadline for receiving your registrations.
Our humanitarian programs grew so rapidly that the Foundation could not process the volume of requests for grants efficiently. That led to the creation of a new grant model that supports global grants with greater and long-lasting impact and district grants which fund small-scale, short-term activities. And we fulfilled Rotarians’ long-held dream for a “peace university” with the launch of the Rotary Peace Centers.
Rotarian financial support has skyrocketed as well. In 1982–83, contributions barely totaled $19 million. Compare that with 2015–16, when the figure jumped to $265.6 million.
This November, we’ll celebrate not just Foundation Month, but also The Rotary Foundation’s centennial. The Rotary website offers many creative ideas for honoring this very special occasion, but there are three activities that I especially recommend.
By Misaki Otani, member of Interact in District 5170 (California, USA) Interact members in my district are raising $120,000 this year to aid Syrian refugees overseas and refugee resettlement in the San … Continue reading →
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 35,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit www.humblerotary.com or www.Rotary.org or e-mail info@humblerotary.com. Like us at www.facebook.com/humblerotary
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