[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1209]]
           HONORING GRAPEVINE ROTARY CLUB'S 40TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KENNY MARCHANT

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2007

  Mr. MARCHANT. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the Grapevine 
Rotary Club's 40th Anniversary. The Rotary Club organization was 
started in Chicago, Illinois in 1905 and currently has approximately 
1.2 million members associated with 32,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide. In 
1964, Grapevine Mayor, Ira E. Woods had the vision of starting a Rotary 
Club in the community. On June 22, 1967 a telegram was delivered from 
Rotary International with confirmation of their charter membership.
  Grapevine Rotary Club is an organization who benefits many people 
both near and far. Locally, they assist needy students at Grapevine 
Middle School with a mentoring program and sponsor many events, 
including: a yearly essay contest, the Special Olympics at Grapevine 
High School, the annual banquet for the Special Olympians, and the 
yearly Senior Citizens Banquet. In years past they built a pavilion at 
a local park. And, for the past 15 years, the Rotary Club has put up 
American Flags on holidays along Grapevine's Main Street. They have 
also supported local charities such as GRACE and Nash Farm.
  They have helped others across the country such as in New Mexico 
where they have worked with other Rotarians to purchase water rights at 
the St. Bonaventure Indian Mission and School on the Navaho 
Reservation.
  Globally, they have: helped donate fire trucks and ambulances to 
Acuna, Mexico, Grapevine's sister city; supported cataract surgeries 
and helped provide artificial limbs for the needy in India; assisted 
students at a school in Tanzania and helped drill water wells in Peru 
and Ghana. The club sponsors teacher exchanges throughout the world 
including Latin America, Eastern Europe and India. The Grapevine Rotary 
participates in the One World program with Russia to help promote world 
peace.
  Madam Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize the tremendous 
contributions to the individuals, organizations and communities that 
Grapevine Rotary Club has benefited for the past 40 years. It is an 
honor to represent this humanitarian organization in the 24th District 
of Texas.

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