[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 61 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E929-E930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SUPPORTING GOALS AND IDEALS OF A ROTARY INTERNATIONAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 10, 2005

  Mr. EMANUEL. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
142, honoring Rotary International on the occasion of the 
organization's one hundred year anniversary. I am proud to note that 
the Rotary Club was founded in 1905 by Paul P. Harris in my hometown of 
Chicago, Illinois. Over the past century, the Rotary Club has grown 
into one of the largest nonprofit organizations in the world.
  Rotary's Membership includes 1.2 million professional and business 
leaders who belong to 31,000 clubs in over 165 countries. These members 
adhere to the Rotary's motto, ``Service Above Self,'' through community 
service projects, high moral conduct, and promotion of international 
good will.
  In 1985, Rotary International launched PolioPlus, an effort to 
immunize the children of

[[Page E930]]

the world against Polio. Rotary's efforts in conjunction with the WHO, 
CDC and UNICEF have nearly eradicated the disease, reducing worldwide 
incidence from 350,000 cases in 1988 to 1,266 cases in 2004. By the end 
of 2005, PolioPlus will have donated over $500 million to this 
remarkable effort. Since its inception in 1947, the Rotary Foundation 
has awarded over $1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, 
focusing on international humanitarian service programs and educational 
and cultural exchanges.
  The scholarship program established by Rotary International is the 
largest privately-funded source of international scholarships in the 
world. Through this program, 8,000 secondary school students have 
studied abroad, 35,000 students have participated in the Rotary 
Ambassadorial Scholars program, and 46,000 young professionals have 
explored careers in other countries.
  Next month, over 37,000 members representing 150 countries will 
attend the 2005 Centennial Rotary International Convention in Chicago 
as apart of the greatest celebration in Rotary's history. On behalf of 
the people of Chicago, I would like to welcome these members to the 
birthplace of their organization.
  Madam Speaker, I congratulate Rotary International and all of its 
members worldwide for their impressive accomplishments over the past 
one hundred years in the areas of community service, Polio eradication 
and international exchange. I look forward to another hundred years of 
commendable service to the country and the world.

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