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"A Family Tradition for 128 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Wednesday, January 3, 1996 - 5 i -- Sa i --------, Co PORT I JOIRIES MINN PAVE MMUNITY . By Diane Runcieman "Special to the Port Pery Star "I need two helpers next Monday night to stuff turkeys for the seniors' Christmas Party." Another call has 'come for volunteers. And the job, large or small, always gets done here in Port Perry, across Canada or around the world, thanks to Rotary International. Once a week at Emiel's Restaurant, the Rotary Club of Port Perry has its dinner meeting. Varying numbers of the 23 active members, mostly local business people, get together to share good food and friendship. The meeting is chaired by the club's presi- dent, Jerry Hopkins, a four-year member. Three weeks per month a guest speaker addresses the group on a variety of sub- jects, from library and museum concerns, to child abuse. The fourth meeting is a for- um where members voice and discuss their opinions, and decisions are made concern- ing fundraising events. Club officers include Aubrey Oppers, vice-president; Robert Keeler, secretary; and Bernie Chandler, treasurer. The club's board of directors is made up of Sandy Beaton, Roy Goodwin, Ish Lal and Myles O'Riordan. The nearly 20 committees set up to deal with the club's ongoing projects are chaired by members on a volunteer basis. The Port Perry club is one of the 50 with over 2,200 members in District 7070, which extends from Belleville in the southeast, Campbellford in the northeast, Toronto in the southwest, Beeton in the northwest and everything in between. In the early 1900's a young lawyer in and friendship could result in more of both. Having grown up in the small state of Vermont, Paul Harris travelled through the bustling city of Chicago in 1893. A "weird fascination" possessed him, and he returned several years later to make it his Chicago had the idea that mixing business: Members enjoy close fellowship corporation that funds projects of an educa- tional and humanitarian nature to further international understanding and promote friendly relations among the people of dif- ferent nations. Through the foun- dation, scholarships are award- ed to qualified candidates to study for varying periods in countries other than their own. While serving as inter- national ambassadors of goodwill for their countries, these scholars gain experi- ence and training which helps them advance within their chosen fields. The foundation's Group Study Exchange enables teams of business and professional men and women to exchange visits between paired Rotary districts in different coun- tries, The aims of the program are to have Rotary Club strong supporter of community sponsorship. As with the other programs, candidates or their families do not have to be Rotarians. Once chosen, the participant stays in the ome of a Rotarian or associated family in the host country. Stays vary from several weeks to months, where they share cultures, visit local land- marks and generally become part of the family. In one recent five-year period, 35,900 young peo- ple participated in this suc- cessful program. Service to the community is an important part of Rotary. Heading up many different committees over the 15 year history of the local club, Bill Beare says, "Being involved in Rotary gives me something to do." Now that he is retired, he has even more time to "meet and | Easter Seals Campaign locally, dispersing J tation, and summer camps set up for child- | ren with special needs. : For the last 13 years, Rotarians and their guests have raised funds in a way that all enjoy: The annual golf tournament includes 28 teams, playing for a selection of gifts donated by local business people. Most of the money raised is donated directly back into the community for such projects as the new arena and banquet hall ($20,000); Community Memorial Hospital expansion ($50,000); and the funds to build the gazebo in Palmer Park and the entrance to the Rotary Environmental Park. Successful annual events include Artfest in May, a major fundraiser; the Oldies Dance with Erin Davis in June; Aquarama in August, and in January, thie Rotary Club will team up with the Port Perry Snowmobile Club and sponsor Snowarama, from which all profits will be donated to Easter Seals. Jerry Hopkins heads up the Rotary Club funds where needed for wheelchairs, eleva- tors to lift children into vans for transpor- Nowhere is Rotary in action more evid- ent than in international disaster relief. Through the motto, "Real happiness is helping others," Rotary clubs around the world provide aid directly to those who need it most. Internationally, the "3-H Program" focuses .on Health, Hunger and Humanity. Large projects emphasize prevention, rath- er than cure; self help rather than charity. Health grants go to improve sanitation, train in nutrition, food preparation and hygiene, water quality control and rabies vaccination. Hunger grants help improve the nutri- tion of the people with a product that can be easily grown in their area, and show them how to preserve and distribute it. Humanity focuses on literacy and voca- tional training, teaching families to cook Some of the members of the Rotary Club, front left, Frank Tielemans, Bob Parker, Jim Grieve, Chuck Dewhirst. Centre left, Jerry Hopkins, Earl Mayes, Roy Goodwin, Rob Keeler, Raj Bhatia, John Richardson and Emiel Kroonenberg. Back left, Geoff Cartwright, Bob Clark, Aubrey Oppers, Sandy Beaton, Bernie Chandler and Glenn VanCamp. home. \ But making friends in such an aggres- sive city was not easy, so he founded a club where friendship and business were blend- and sew for themselves as well to sell their wares to increase the family income. Whether it be stuffing turkeys for a ed. In order to thrive in a non-competitive atmosphere, membership was limited to one man from each business or profession. It has grown to include more than 1.1 million members in more than 22,000 Rotary clubs worldwide today, and realizes that business is the science of human ser- vice, and that "he profits most who serves his fellows best." Now in its 91st year, Rotary International members share a common belief in "service above self." The Rotary Foundation, supported by contributions worldwide, is a non-profit the team observe another countries people and institutions; further international understanding by meeting and living with others and getting to know them, and to get "directly involved in international service projects. Since the 1920s, the Youth Exchange . Program has promoted international understanding in young people the world over. The candidate, a young man or wom- an, usually between 15 and 19, makes writ- ten application to the local Rotary Club for help people in the community I love so much." Bill was in charge of putting this year's Children's Christmas Party together. On Dec. 6, children and grandchildren of mem- bers enjoyed Kentucky Fried Chicken and all the trimmings, a visit from Santa, and shared the fun of the Christmas season. Bryce Philp and Jeff Fell put on another successful Seniors Christmas Dinner on Nov. 29, for 200 residents of the local nurs- ing homes. Christmas party, preparing a young person for an exchange program abroad, raising money for the community hospital or vacci- nating children against a deadly disease, the object of Rotary is clear: "To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise.' And nowhere is service more worthy than in helping a fellow human in their time of need. The Rotary Club of Port Perry is always looking for new members, and Jerry encourages anyone with time and energy to contribute to call him at 985-8259. 6.8% 5 Year Government Guaranteed ROBERT J. GOW * All At Guaranteed Low Prices UNITED 2 CARPET® KZ Kelly, Zuly, Greenway, Bruce FAMOUS BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS Levolor® Motor Vehicle - Criminal - Personal Injury Largest Carpet Selection : Wills - Real Estate - Family Law 11 In Scugog Township B LIN DS LL - 434-71 56 or Corporate & Commercial & a member of the largest carpet « Verticals * Venetians Rober t J. Gow 1 -800-267- 1 522 buying group In Canada. 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