[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 5, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E541]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. ED CASE

                               of hawaii

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 5, 2005

  Mr. CASE. Mr. Speaker, I wish today to express my unqualified support 
for House Resolution 55, reprinted below and of which I am a proud 
cosponsor, recognizing the 100th anniversary of Rotary International, 
and in doing so to acknowledge the truly inspiring work of generations 
and millions of Rotarians over the last century.
  Mr. Speaker, can there be a better example of selfless public service 
than that of Rotary International? From humble beginnings in Chicago in 
1905, the world's first service club now claims 1.2 million Rotarians 
in some 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries. And it has found a 
special home in my own great State of Hawaii, with 41 clubs operating 
in all four counties, from Hanalei Bay to Hilo Bay.
  The secret of Rotary International's success is that it evokes our 
innermost desire to give back to our worldwide community, as captured 
in its motto: Service Above Self. Its now famous Four-Way Test--Is it 
the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and 
better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?--is a 
lighthouse not only for its own efforts but for those of all of us.
  One hundred years of individual, community, statewide and countrywide 
projects have solidified Rotary International's reputation and 
collectively earned it widespread recognition. But no project better 
exemplifies the spirit, success and potential of Rotary International 
than PolioPlus, its partnership with the World Health Organization, 
United Nations Children's Fund, and Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention to eradicate the scourge of polio from the face of our 
earth.
  Most of us of adult age in our country remember the polio scares and 
tragedies of decades past, but we do not regard polio as a credible 
threat to our own children due to widespread immunization and other 
advances. That is not true universally: polio still exists and strikes 
randomly, especially in South Asia and Africa.
  In 1985, Rotary International undertook a truly breathtaking 
endeavor: to eliminate polio through universal immunization. And with 
its partners in the U.S. Agency for International Development's Polio 
Eradication Initiative--and funding from many governments including 
$260 million since 1996 of our own--it has brought polio to its knees: 
1988's 350,000 cases internationally are today's couple hundred.

  But we all know that the last few steps of any marathon are often the 
hardest, and so it is with polio. I certainly saw the challenges in my 
trip last year to Afghanistan--one of just six countries where polio is 
still endemic--where the challenges in simply reaching some of the most 
remote and isolated communities in our world are staggering.
  Yet with the end so near Rotary International's efforts have been 
redoubled, and I want to tell you about just one inspiring 
contribution: that of Rotarian Bob ``Motorcycle Bob'' Mutchler and his 
wife, Patti. For the last seven years Bob, himself a victim of polio, 
and Patti have undertaken several marathon motorcycle rides across our 
country and world to highlight PolioPlus and raise funds for polio's 
endgame.
  Bob and Patti recently kicked off their last PolioPlus Ride, the 
``Centennial Ride'', in our Hawaii, aiming to cover all fifty states 
ending in Alaska this summer. On Tuesday, March 15th, they and local 
Rotarians and other well-wishers started their engines in my hometown 
of Hilo and set off on the first leg of their latest adventure, a trip 
around my Big Island, followed by rides around Maui and Kauai and 
capped by a journey around Oahu on Saturday, March 26th, which I was 
honored to start. They're now off riding the Mainland, taking our aloha 
with them; you can follow their journey at www.polioplusride.org. where 
Patti's keeping a journal.
  Bob and Patti Mutchler exemplify the spirit of Rotary International, 
as did Mike Nelson, President of the Rotary Club of Volcano on the 
Island of Hawaii. Mike embraced the Mutchlers' efforts and chaired 
their Centennial Ride in Hawaii. Tragically, he lost his life in an 
auto accident on February 23rd; the ride was dedicated to him, and we 
remember him with the deepest appreciation and admiration as 
representing the true essence of Rotary.
  Mr. Speaker, what an incredible century Rotary International has had, 
epitomizing the very best of our country, our world and our human race. 
We pause, in House Resolution 55, for a brief moment to recognize and 
honor Rotary's achievements, but I know that Rotarians everywhere, 
while appreciating our actions on behalf of all of our citizens, would 
have us move beyond as soon as possible to the remaining and urgent 
tasks at hand.
  Mahalo, and aloha!

                          ____________________