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Rotary Is International IIZMYmt Rotary clubs are autonomous at the local level, but they are part of the Rotary International which is a hierarchy that governs the relationship between the local clubs and foreign chapters. This organization is structured into regions, zones and districts. McHenry is contained in District 644 (northeast Dhnois) which incidentally contains the headquarters for Rotary International at Evanston. Officials of the In­ ternational are selected from local dub members upon application by qualified individuals and endorsement by the local Rotary. The first McHenry Rotary club member accepted for district office is David Benrud, who has a ten year service record and was president in McHenry in 1974-75. The five Rotary dubs of McHenry County are hosting the annual Rotary In­ ternationa] convention in Chicago in June of this year. It is appropriate because the convention marks the 75th anniversary of Rotary In­ ternational, the McHenry Gub is celebrating its 25th year of existence, and the first district officer from the city is completing his first year in office. In explaining the function of the district and larger subdivision of the Rotary International, Benrud notes that one of the purposes of the Rotary is the ad­ vancement of international understanding and peace through worldwide fellowship of business and professional men working together in service. The Rotary International serves all the clubs in the world and terms of world service and to consider the needs of distant groups. One of the tools of the International is the publication of the monthly Rotarian containing in­ formation about Rotary activities worldwide. Benrud notes that it has the largest circulation of any such dub magazine in the world, distributed worldwide and printed in a number of languages. Another in­ strument for international service is the Rotary Foundation supported by all clubs. The foundation helps in several areas. It gives graduate fel lowships and undergraduate scholarships and makes awards for technical training and group study exchange programs. These all are for study in other countries. This year Rotary In­ ternational is promoting the Three H (health, hunger and humanity) program. Of­ ficials point out. Benrud said, that if every Rotarian contributed $15 to this cause a fund of $12 million would be available for projects under this banner. Benrud said that already an extensive preventive program of tetanus shots for children and mothers in the Philhpines is under way and • s . * * '• the International is engaged in the distribution of polio vaccine in other areas. And the money from this fund drive, which concludes with the annual convention, is to be disbursed for suitable projects within three years. Bound relates that James L. Bowmar, Rotary In­ ternational president from Tennessee, is emphasizing that the refugee problem is one area where Rotarians can get involved. John Nelson Hawkins, past ffiarid governor from Park Ridge tells of his club ex­ perience with one Viet Nam family who are struggling to raise six children in their newly adopted America and how it can involve the whole membership. DaveBearad District Governor In connection with the international scene, Benrud acknowledges that some members are that in view of the notary's in­ ternational relationships, couldn't they do something or adopt some position about some situations such as the Afghanistan crisis. Benrud advises that rides of the Rotary International prohibit dubs from adopting or circulating views that would affect political policies of other countries, although members can hold their individual views. He says they cannot permit direct appeals to club members in those countries that would compromise their loyalties to their own governments or affect their religious beliefs. Clubs must keep out of politics in their official activities. But, Benrud addSTWfirty- International has openings for people who want to volunteer at least one month for service in various capacities. And as an example, the president of the International himself is (me who gives up two years of his life to serve officially around the world. • , , . , , - Why does a busy ink# join the Rotary? Benrud says that in his case he could see the need and had the desire for doing a number of things in the community. One man by himself has Httte Impact, he noted. However, feoridng with a group a person can multiply his own efforts by the sum of The intelligences and the strengths available. This results in good things such as the athletic field storage building, the city park shelter the playground equipment at Petersen Parte, the formation of k; new emergency squad, the _ support of numerous youth activities and charitable projects. The reward isjh* feeling of accomplishment . and the ' uftisfactwit- ̂ working with an eager'and friendly group. Mcv • Donated By McHenry R*a*y~McHenFy Fuktte lArary V».-» $1,000 Scholarship Awarded McHenry Helps Form Other Clubs Rotary International reports that as of 1979 the number of Rotary dubs in existence were 17,814 with a membership of 845,092. In 74 years this figure had been reached from the modest beginning in 1905 of 1 dub with 12 members. To produce this growth a number of Rotarians who are dedicated missionaries are required. Possibly fitting this description in the McHenry Rotary is John Loose who makes his part in the process of extending dote sound easy. Loose, a charter member, recalls that when Dr. William Nye was asked by his friend. Dr. Louis Rich- berg of Glencoe, to start a chd> here in 1965, Nye agreed and then turned to Looze and said, "John, you • organize it." and he did. Later District officials said they would like to see a dub in Crystal Lake, and once again John was called on. Looze notes that he had a number of contacts with at torneys throughout the county and asked the cooperation of Attorney William Cowlin. who was later elected stales attorney, ' • ' • • • . r - * * * - " 1 5 - " • and the two of them through a number of meetings got the Crystal Lakeck* rolling. Looxe^ays that about five years later he, received a similar request from Woodstock people who wanted a dub and he once again exercised his talents. With the cooperations of other McHenry club members he launched the Woodstock Rotary Club. 1 Looze says that getting things started seems to be his forte recalling his part in die establishing of Marine Day and die Businessman's Club, later the Chamber of Commerce in McHenry. Loose was recognized by the McHenry Club for his accomplishments with a Rotarian of the Year award in 1972. ROTARY) Serving others for 75 years! Now in over .150 countries J The McHenry Rotary Club scholarship fund started in 1978, but was rooted in an earlier program for student loans that was conceived in thefirst year of the dub's existence, .1955. Resulting from a social part of the weekly dub luncheons called "Fun and Frolics," was a fund that ran into hundreds of dollars each year.. The dub early decided that a useful purpose for spending this fund would be to aid juniors orsemorsin college from the local area to complete their education if the peed arose. 1 Fun and Frolics is the name <if a .system of levying small fine? .(usually, a quarto-) by specially ap- pointed enforcers for each meeting for violations of existing or imaginary regulations many of which would;; be absolutely ridiculous . Besides adding to built a serviceable fond. The loan program con­ tinued for a number of years and many McHenry college students benefitted from it. Rfecipents of the loan were urged to repay the interest free loans after their graduation if possible, but no notes were signed. The reason for asking repayment was to make the money available for later ap­ plicants. In time the federal government stepped in and formulated a much more comprehensive student loan program that was ad­ ministered through banks and schools and the need for the Rotary loan program disappeared. In its . place the club determined about five years to establish an annual j for students who were well qualified but not necessarily based on per­ sonal need. This scholarship is available to any. local resident student graduating from. Marian CeptniL the Mcltenry high Johnsburg high .the amount is $l,000. Interested students apply through their school coun­ selors and complete the necessary forms which are then screened by a Rotary committee. The application includes personal and academic information and also asks for a short essay on the student's view of the community and business world. Applications are made shortly after the first of the senior year. The applicants are screened and interviewed by the Rotary committee and the suc­ cessful candidate is awarded his or her scholarshilpon the annual high school honors day. Rotarians noted that the money must be used at an accredited college or university and is paid out at the rate of $250per semester. Any balance unused reverts to the dub scholarship fund which continues to be sup­ ported mainly by "Fun and Frolics." Rotarian Peterson notes that the needs test does not apply for this scholarship, bid important is a demon­ strated ability and desire for a higher education. Recipients. or the scholarship to date have been: £ Joy Vvduiia to ,1976; Richkrd Long in 1977; Deborah Krier in 1978; and Lynn Lupo in lffe. The recipient for 1980 is being SclvC(6u. The McHenry Club sponsored successfully a candidate for a Rotary In­ ternational Fellowship for overseas study in 1980. Kurt Bueger, a student at Dart­ mouth College was chosen as the winner from districts 642 and 844 and was sent to a university in Germany. The Rotary International Fellowships are for students in a graduate status who seek to pursue their studies in a foreign country where they can speak and write the language. Youth Exchange Program . .11 The youth exchange program is now a successful and established part of the Rotary International ac­ tivities and the McHenry club regularly participates, Jack Kelsey indicates. Chairman for the program this year is Phil Bartmann. The McHenry Rotary Club is part of District 644 of Rotary International which is dassed ss part of a multi­ district group and thus exchanges with other mult- district areas in the World. McHenry's multi-district indudes Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and part of Ontario. Exchange of students between districts began in the mid 1960's. It is reported that 225 students were ex­ changed during this year, this figure including 19 from District 644- Statistics now indicate, Utat.over 7000 <v>4 v; i V i i ;k ' ie: .i' uilii i"VU students a year are ex­ changed. Although the program started with Rotarians exchanging their own children, now the op­ portunities are open to all children in a district who have reached the age of 16 or 17 at the time of departing. To be an exchange student the interested persons contacts his local Rotary Club and he or she is in­ terviewed at some time in October for possible ac­ ceptance. Local club selections are reviews by district personnel in mid- November and the suc­ cessful csndidates are scheduled to leave in the following August for a year overseas. The student or his family must bear the cost of air transportation, in­ surance and necessary in* ddentlals. The exchangee* will live with a host Rotary -i ' l e ' f1 t i l n,» ' • n-Mq no 'hl i i i > • club, family or other sated family at the end fur the year. t. exchange student attends school that serves the home area where he stays and the hos^ dub in general looks out Tor his welfare and assists him in making contacts. Trips and entertainments are arranged for die student and he is encouraged to speak out at the Rotary dinners to which he is invited. Handling the eX< for the. district if the Rotary International Mid-States program which completes die paper work, secures the visas and arranges necessary bus trips. Exchange students are asked to report regularly to their home dubs so that the Rotary can detect when a rsible problem might be (Continued onpage 3) j