What is Rotary?

  Rotary is the world’s first service club, founded in Chicago, Ill Feb 1905. 

  It is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide,
who provide humanitarian service,
encourage high ethical standards in all vocations,
and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

  Our motto is: “SERVICE ABOVE SELF”.

  It exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organizations’ more than 1.2M members.

  The avenues of Rotary service include community and international volunteerism through club activities
and the promotion of ethics in all vocations.

  We are nonreligious, nongovernmental and open to every race, culture and creed. 

Membership represents a cross section of local business and professional leaders.

We encourage members to practice:

                                                                        THE FOUR WAY TEST:
                                                                         I.    Is it the Truth?
                                                                         II.   Is it fair to all concerned?
                                                                         III.  Will it build good will & better friendships?
                                                                         IV.  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

         WHAT  DO  WE  DO  FOR  INTERNATIONAL  PROJECTS?

        · Polio eradication.

        · RI sponsors clinics to assist with health concerns - cleft palates, cataracts, & other eye problems, prosthesis centres 

        · Assists in building homes in third world countries for those without homes

        · Assists with water wells & drinking water systems

        · Offers emergency Shelter Box kits to areas in a immediate need of protection & survival

        · 2 transport loads of goods ranging from crutches, wheel chairs, desks, medical supplies, clothes, toys and yes,
           a pickup truck. These items were delivered by our Canadian Forces by air transport to a group of nuns in Haiti

        · Wheel chairs & tricycles for polio victims in India

        · Malaria tents in Africa

        · Three projects in Dhule, India for the construction of bore wells, the provision of school supplies
           for an  elementary school
           for children from a slum area and support for a Polio Reconstructive Hospital.

     Every member receives a monthly issue of the Rotarian, a magazine that keeps us informed locally
     of Rotary world-wide events & issues of interest.
 

         WHAT  HAVE  WE  DONE  FOR  LOCAL  PROJECTS  IN  OUR  CHATHAM-KENT  COMMUNITY?

    We celebrated 10 Years Anniversary in March 2008 with an impressive list of projects.

        · A van for the YMCA to take children to day camps & other activities. It is also used to transport seniors
          to special events.

        · We partnered with other Rotary Clubs & contributed $100,000 toward the construction of
           the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance’s new hospital

        · $20,000 to furnish the Pediatrics’ ward of the same institution.

        · Washing machine and toaster for a school breakfast program;

        · Books for the Literary Angels program in the Chatham-Kent Library System

        · Planted 100 pear trees and 10,000 daffodils along the south side of Grand Ave. W.

        · Planted a mini-Carolinian garden on the Thames Campus of St. Clair College

        · Twice annually clean up the property at the 401 interchange at the Bloomfield Rd.

        · Funding to the Transition House (a home for teens who have no home)

        · We contributed $10,000 to the Chatham Kent Foundation

        · Have established 2- $500 scholarships for graduates from the John McGregor High School

        · Provided funds to All for Kids, for those children less fortunate in our community

        · Campaigned for Physician Recruitment & Retention activities

        · We’ve sponsored annually children for in the outbound exchange programs
 

         WHY  SHOULD  I  JOIN  ROTARY?

        · We meet at 7:30 am on Tuesdays for breakfast. One hour!

        · You will enjoy fellowship, a good breakfast and have an opportunity to network with other like-minded individuals.

        · You’ll learn from interesting weekly guest speakers.

        · Spouses and family members are always welcome to be involved in our social meetings and projects

        · You’ll gain a sense that by serving together we are building a better world for our children and grandchildren.
 

        We write a weekly summary of the Tuesday meetings, “The Sunriser” which is published on
         our web site every week at www.rotarysunrise.com
         We also rely on emails to get quick updates & reminders out to the Membership.
 

         WHAT  WILL  BE  ASKED  OF  YOU?

        · Weekly attendance at Tuesday Meetings – join in the fellowship & networking with other members
          Join a committee & get to know other members while helping with the fundraising activities

        · Volunteer your time for Bingos & ticketed fundraisers.

        · We sell roses each spring, over 1100 dozen roses,

        · We run an Annual Sportsman’s Weekend lottery

        · We recognize Mardi Gras in February with a Dinner & Auction evening

        · July 3, 2009 will be our first Annual Rib Fest in Chatham – we’re excited!

        · We have done garage sales, golf tournaments barbeques, lobster fests

        · Bring out your bicycle & enjoy our “Round the River Rotary Ride” every June

        · Our Polio Plus Campaign offers 1 hour flights over Chatham-Kent to anyone at a nominal cost.

        · We sell flag poles to promote our pride of being Canadians

      Rotary membership fees and other costs are kept as low as possible. The main part of the fee is to cover the cost of
      running the club and meals and currently range between $150. and $175. per quarter.

      In the words of Rotary International Past-President, Wilf Wilkinson, “Rotary is an amazing organization full of people
      who want to reduce suffering in this world through fellowship and service . . . . . ”       The Rotary Clubs around the globe
      are making the world better through local and international communityservice, goodwill activities and peace projects. 

      The Rotary Club of Chatham Sunrise is an exceptional Rotary Club. 

      You will consider it an honour and a privilege to be a Rotarian. 

November 17/08