"Every Rotarian, Every Year"

Our own Bill Dyer and President George Shaw provided the club with a glimpse of what Rotary Service is all about.

The program began with an introduction to the various Rotary Foundations and Programs that have been established with the same underlying ideals: world betterment and peace. Such Foundations and Programs include:

The Rotary Foundation - Working towards the elimination of poverty, environmental conservation, food security, healthcare and education, mediation and conflict resolution and world peace and understanding.

PolioPlus - Continuing efforts to eradicate Polio worldwide while serving as a catalyst in boosting the world's capacity to combat other infectious diseases.

Rotary Centers for International Studies - Partnering eight leading universities around the world and establishing seven Rotary Centers to advance the knowledge and understanding among potential future leaders through the availability of Master's degree programs related to conflict resolution.

Group Study Exchange - Providing travel grants for young professionals that visit different countries to learn about other cultures and how their professions are practiced world-wide.

Ambassadorial Scholarships - Established in 1947 to further international understanding. To date 37,000 scholars from 110 countries have served as ambassadors of good will.

District Simplified Grants - A tool available to Rotary districts to support short-term humanitarian projects that benefit their communities. Up to 20% of District Designated Funds may be used in this manner.

These are just a handful of the programs that Rotary International has established to meet goals worldwide. Despite their existence, we are beginning to see evidence of an emerging crisis. In recent years, contributions have ceased to keep pace with the worldwide need for help. Bill called all Paducah Rotarians to action urging each one of us to pledge our annual $100.00 to meet the club's participating in the Rotary International goal of "Every Rotarian, Every Year" in an effort to help us overcome this deficit. With 1.2 million members worldwide, a commitment by "Every Rotarian, Every Year" would grow funding for worldwide projects by $120 million each and every year!

Club President George Shaw also serves as President of the Community Foundation. He took this opportunity to explain how money raised locally is shaping our community. In 1996 former Mayor Gerry Montgomery presented the idea for the Paducah Area Foundation to provide assistance to those in need in Paducah. The foundation was later renamed the Community Foundation of Western Kentucky to reach a greater number of people region-wide. The foundation began with three small gifts that were given by three community banks operating in Paducah at that time. Today, as a result of local fundraisers such as "Pennies for the Future," t-shirt sales from BBQ on the river, and charity fun runs, and contributions from generous individuals and local corporations, the foundation has 80 funds with a grand total of $8.7 million.

In addition to the Community Foundation, members of the club also have the opportunity to donate funds to a local fund created in memory of member Barron White who passed away in 2004. The endowment fund, named The Paducah Rotary Club Endowment in Honor of Barron White currently has a balance of $2500.

To give the meeting a proper close Bill asked each of us to pledge three things: to commit to our annual $100.00 charity donation in the spirit of "Every Rotarian, Every Year," to remember Rotary when estate planning, and..to commit to ring the bell for the Salvation Army on or around December 17. (Never too early to start on us, Bill!)

NEXT WEEK