Rotary in the Public Eye - Week of September 24, 2007

ROTARY IN THE PUBLIC EYE

When Rotarians think of Rotary, we think of our noble goals and motives. When the world thinks of Rotary, it can think only of our actions and the service we have performed.

Rotary International has performed countless humanitarian projects around the world. Rotary is an organization of business and professional people united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

The Rotary Club of Anguilla has a proud history since its inception in 1978. For more than ten years, the local Rotary Club, under the direction of Rotarian Dr. David Bergland, now a retired veterinarian and Honourary Rotarian, sent crippled children to Shiners’ Hospital in Chicago every year for remedial treatment.

For several years, the Club held a "land raffle" in which over US$100,000.00 was raised and dispensed in educational, musical and audio visual equipment for the schools of Anguilla.

In addition to the land raffle, for many years, the Club held an annual "car raffle" in which approximately US$25,000.00 was raised each year for funding materials and resources for the schools, hospital and clinics around the island. Over a period of several years, a playground was built in each of the primary schools of the island. This project was under the direction of Rotarian Paul Neuss, now deceased.

Emergency relief. The Club has rebuilt roofs of houses that were damaged in hurricanes, repainted old peoples’ homes, and contributed to emergency relief in neighbouring islands as required.

The Club has also donated wheelchairs, crutches, and canes to those in need.

For more information about Rotary, and how you might become a member of this prestigious organization, check the website http://www.rotaryanguilla.org or speak to any local Rotarian. The Rotary Club of Anguilla meets every Thursday evening at 6:00 p.m. upstairs at the English Rose.