[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E281]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING 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, DC, 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.
  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 that 
Rotary clubs through Oregon's Second District, the United States and 
the world have supported over the years: eradication of polio, tsunami 
and hurricane relief, aid to famine victims in Zimbabwe, international 
youth exchange, training for teachers of students with disabilities, 
humanitarian and educational grants, vocational service and local 
community projects such as building playgrounds and developing parks. 
These are just a few examples of the depth in service given by 
Rotarians around the world.
  A major focus of Rotary International is the global eradication of 
polio, a goal that the organization hopes to meet this year. In 1985, 
Rotarians launched the PolioPlus program to protect children against 
the disease. Rotary, along with groups such as the World Health 
Organization, the United Nations Children's 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 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.''

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