Rotary all about service

Is it a group of old men and their fathers who gather for lunch?

Or, is it the world’s premier international service organization?

Of course it is the second option.

Rotary offers a diverse global network of community, business and professional leaders.

What does Rotary do?

These leaders address relevant causes to change lives and build goodwill and peace at home and aboard. Rotary works with the World Health Organization, UNICEF, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and national governments toward Rotary’s top goal —eradicating polio worldwide. You have probably seen the ads that state “We are this close.”

Rotary International has more than 1.2 million members in more than 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Rotary sponsors Interact clubs in high schools and Rotaract clubs on college campuses. Rotary focuses time, energy and efforts on many varied service projects encompassing:

1. Peace and conflict prevention and resolution. Superior Sunrise Rotary has a series of speakers once a month that focus on this topic. They meet 7 a.m. each Tuesday at Perkins in Superior. Check them out at www.clubrunner.ca/superiorsunrise.

2. Disease prevention and treatment — Polio Plus program to eradicate polio.

3. Water and sanitation. Many area Rotary clubs have contributed to the Mano a Mano organization that works in Bolivia to build reservoirs that allow farmers to have two crops in a year. A recent purified water project was done in Haiti in addition to much humanitarian aid after the earthquake.

4. Maternal and child health. Rotary Club of Superior and other clubs support Just Kids Dental, Nutrition on Weekends, Scottish Rite and many more. They meet at 11:45 a.m. each Wednesday at Barker’s Island Inn in Superior. Check them out at www.clubrunner.ca/superior.

5. Basic education and literacy. Local Rotarians participate in Rolling Readers, teach chess to elementary students, Superior Math League, Big Buddy/Little Buddy, and more.

6. Economic and community development. Rotary Club of Superior gives grants to Harbor House, Salvation Army, Young Professionals, Superior/Douglas County Leadership, and more.

The Rotary Club of Superior partners with Harbortown Rotary of Duluth and Superior Sunrise Rotary to present the Lake Superior Dragon Boat Festival. The fun, free, family event brings thousands of spectators and participants to Barker’s Island the last weekend in August. Rotary Club of Superior’s other main fundraiser is a fall wine tasting. All of the money raised at these events goes in total to grants given out by the club.

The Twin Ports is fortunate to have six Rotary Clubs. In addition to Superior Sunrise and Rotary Club of Superior, Harbortown Rotary in Duluth, and Rotary Club 25 in Duluth, Skyline Rotary, and Duluth/Superior Eco Rotary.

Learn more at www.rotary.org or talk to a local Rotarian.

Warren Bender is president of the Superior Rotary Club, the oldest Rotary Club in the state.

Tags: opinion, editorials