A Brief History of the Rotary Club of Georgetown
The Rotary Club of Georgetown was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Guelph and received its charter on February 17, 1955. In February 2015 we will celebrate the clubs 60th anniversary.
Its first major project was the Seniors Citizens Dinner. In 2005 the Club received recognition from Rotary International for its annual Seniors Dinner held consecutively for 50 years, the longest running charitable event in the 100 year existence, at that time, of Rotary International. We have held what is now called, the “Norm Bigg” Senior Citizens Dinner” for 58 years continuously.
Our Club has been active in supporting Youth endeavours with grants and scholarships and is very active in International Youth Exchange having received our first exchange student from Belgium in 1978 and sent a total of some 20 or more local students to many participating countries world-wide, over the years. Presently we have Anna Johanson here from Estonia and last year we hosted Yuichi Mori here with us from Japan as an Inbound student. Our outbound this year is Brent who is in Venezuela, last year Demi went to Switzerland and the year prior Kenrdra who went to Brazil.
Other community involvement has included fund raising for the Georgetown Hospital, Arenas, Cultural Centre and the Gellert Recreation Centre plus an initial major fund raising of $35,000 to assist Halton Women’s Place. The most recent project was the dedication of the Universally Accessible Children’s Playground at Bradley Gardens in June, 2012 at a cost of some $142,800 with a commitment to finish Phase II of the project at an estimated cost of $18,000 to be finalized in the spring of 2013.
There have been many international programs that the Rotary Club of Georgetown has supported financially and with the assistance of a few Rotarians providing “hands on” help covering an array of programs that save and invigorate the lives of people around the world and enhance international friendship and understanding. Rotary Foundation programs provide educational opportunities, food, potable water, health care and immunizations - especially “Polio Plus” to eradicate polio in the world and shelter for millions of persons.
As of January 2013 Rotary International boasts a worldwide membership of 1,216,779 made up of 34,416 clubs in over 200 countries. The Georgetown Club has a present membership of 21 and is in District 7080 which is made up of a total of 50 clubs.
The Club recognizes long-standing members by awarding them for their contribution of “Service Above Self” with a Paul Harris Fellowship. The Fellowship was established in 1957 to express appreciation to those who show significant, lasting support to the humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation.
I would like to share with you what Sir Winston Churchill said about volunteering:
“You make a living from what you get - you make a life from what you give.”
Rotarians are available to offer you more information about the Rotary Club of Georgetown – just ask.