[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E277-E278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE SERVICE OF BEND ROTARY AND THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF 
                          ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. GREG WALDEN

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2005

  Mr. WALDEN of Oregon. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
extraordinary commitment to service, community, and humanitarianism 
displayed by the members of Rotary International as the organization 
celebrates its 100th anniversary this month.
  One hundred years ago, a lawyer in Chicago, Illinois, embarked on an 
effort to create a professional club that captured the same friendly 
spirit he felt in the small towns of his youth; a club that would make 
service a priority, generosity a regular occurrence, and hard work a 
way of life. This idea was welcomed throughout the United States with 
clubs sprouting coast to coast within the first decade, and throughout 
the rest of the world with clubs forming on six continents by 1921.
  Today, Rotary International is a worldwide organization of business 
and professional leaders--individuals committed to humanitarianism, 
high ethical standards, and civic involvement.
  I have been a proud member of Rotary since October 1987, and while my 
work here in Washington, D.C. keeps me from attending all the meetings 
of my Hood River, Oregon club, I make every attempt to go when I am 
home. And as I commute home to Oregon each week from our nation's 
capital, I am able to attend many meetings at clubs in the twenty 
counties throughout my sprawling district.
  There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians in over 31,000 clubs 
located in 166 countries. And in the United States, there are nearly 
400,000 Rotarians in more than 7,500 clubs.
  The Bend Rotary, found in the heart of Oregon, is one such club. 
Founded in 1947, Bend Rotary is the longest running club in Bend and 
its members have helped establish the three other Rotary clubs that 
currently exist in the city--High Desert, Bend-Mt. Bachelor, and 
Greater Bend.
  Rotary International has the motto ``Service Above Self'' and they 
adhere to ``The Four Way Test'' of business ethics, a philosophy that 
encourages truth, fairness, goodwill and mutual benefit in all 
professional actions. These traits are evident in the projects Bend 
Rotary has supported over the years: the Alice Hatch Pre-School 
Playground, the Drake Park Pavilion, the Juniper Park Skating Rink and 
Pat's Park in Juniper Park, the Central Oregon Welcome Center Sign, the 
``Tree of Joy,'' and the Barrance Honda Mexico Water Project. In the 
past, Bend Rotary has donated over 280 wheel chairs to a small town in 
Lithuania and has also raised over $100,000 to help refurnish a school 
kitchen in that country.
  Currently, Bend Rotary is working in conjunction with the other Bend 
area clubs on the completion of Rotary Centennial Playground to be 
located adjacent to Bend Senior Center in Bend. In the true Rotary 
spirit of service for all, this park has been designed with access and 
amenities suitable for kids and parents with special physical needs and 
is compliant with ADA standards. The 350 members of the

[[Page E278]]

four Bend area Rotary clubs have pledged both time and money, including 
16 hours of volunteer labor per Rotarian and funds in excess of 
$150,000 to launch this worthwhile endeavor.
  A major focus of Rotary International is the global eradication of 
polio, a goal that the organization hopes to meet this year. In 1985 
they launched the PolioPlus program to protect children against the 
disease. Rotary, along with groups such as the World Health 
Organization, the United Nations Children Fund, the U.S. Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, and various governments throughout the 
world, has achieved a 99 percent reduction in the number of polio cases 
worldwide.
  Their work and generosity has benefited youth, seniors, the 
impoverished, the disabled, the disheartened, and those devastated by 
disease, tragedy and natural disaster. I am proud to be a Rotarian and 
proud of the work that Rotary clubs throughout my district do on an 
ongoing basis.
  Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to share with my colleagues 
the generosity and spirit of service that is exemplified by the members 
of Bend Rotary. May those of us in the Congress pay special attention 
to the motto of this organization and conduct ourselves here in a 
manner of ``Service Before Self.''

                          ____________________