Club Office
Rotary Club of Galveston
P.O. Box 810, Galveston,
TX 77553
Phone: 409-763-8688
12:00 Noon each Wednesday,
Fisherman's Wharf
Location: Harborside &
22nd Street
Galveston, TX
See Map!
ROTARY
THE FOUR WAY TEST
of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOOD WILL and
BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all
concerned?
THE OBJECT OF ROTARY
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal
of service as a basis of worthy
enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity
for service;
SECOND: High ethical standards in business and professions;
the recognition of the worthiness
of all useful occupations, and the dignifying of each
Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to
serve society.
THIRD: The application of the ideal of service in each
Rotarian’s personal, business, and
community life;
FOURTH: The advancement of international understanding,
goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business
and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
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The
Rotary Club of Galveston Centennial Year
It
is with great pride that our membership proclaims that The
Rotary Club of Galveston was founded on June 1, 1913, holds
Charter #73 in Rotary International and will celebrate its
100th Birthday in the next Rotary year beginning July 1,
2012 and ending June 30, 2013. I am both proud and humbled
by the honor my fellow club members have bestowed upon me
to serve as the President of our Club during its Centennial
Year.
This
past week, the Rotary Club of Galveston in conjunction with
the Rotary Club of Galveston Island were the host clubs
for the 2011 - 2012 Annual Conference for District 5910
which is comprised of 41 Clubs throughout Southeast Texas,
stretching from Bryan/College Station to Lufkin and from
Palestine to Beaumont. District Governor Bernd "Ulli"
Budelmann of The Rotary Club of Galveston, hosted this event
at Moody Gardens.
Each
year the President of Rotary International recognizes clubs
whose performance meet or exceeds standards established
for club activity. For the 17th consecutive year, our club
was recognized and awarded the prestigious Presidential
Citation for Balanced Club Achievement. We also were recognized
for our level of financial support to the Rotary International
Foundation and toward the Polio Plus and its matching Grant
from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. During a time
when service clubs nationwide are experiencing declining
membership, our club was also recognized for its growth
in membership.
Galveston
is fortunate to have two Rotary Clubs; service clubs whose
goals include local, national & international service
projects directed toward humanitarian objectives. These
objectives include peace & conflict prevention/resolution,
disease prevention & treatment, water & sanitation,
maternal & child health, basic education & literacy
and economic & community development.
In
order to provide for fellowship, enrichment and retain membership,
Rotary Clubs hold regular weekly meetings, hosting guest
speakers who present programs on a wide variety of topics
of human interest. These topics cover local government,
economic development, local, state & national economy,
community affairs and other diverse topics of interest.
Speakers include local & regional political figures,
professionals, educators, community leaders and experts
on various topics.
Club
members gather periodically for both organized and spontaneous
local social events and club leaders and leaders in training
meet at district wide organizational and training events
which also provide an opportunity for fellowship. Our incoming
presidents meet at statewide training events and all Rotarians
have an opportunity to gather at the Rotary International
Annual Convention held in a different host county each year.
The
Rotary Club of Galveston raises funds through member dues,
raffles, fundraising events and rotary grants to support
its objectives. Funds go to support local club activities,
toward local service projects & worthy endeavors, to
the local Foundation of The Rotary Club of Galveston, to
the operations of Rotary International and to the Rotary
International Foundation.
The
local Foundation of The Rotary Club of Galveston, each year
donates approximately $30,000 toward worthy projects and
causes which meet its foundation guidelines and receive
approval of its board. The Foundations Endowment and its
investment returns, makes it possible for annual grants
from the endowment to exceed annual contributions to the
endowment, while continuing to grow its funds.
Rotary
International is the operating and management arm for all
rotary clubs around the globe and its budget goes to support
operations and programs for those same rotary clubs.
The
Rotary International Foundation is the philanthropic arm
of rotary and receives its funding in the form of grants
and contributions from Rotarians, from rotary clubs around
the globe and from non- Rotarians who support the general
objectives of rotary or specific service projects in which
the foundation may be involved.
The
Rotary Club of Galveston directs approximately 20% of its
funding to the local Foundation of the Rotary Club of Galveston,
20% to Rotary International, 20% to the International Rotary
Foundation and 40% for local projects and objectives. Recent
and ongoing projects and donations include gifts toward
the restoration of Washington Park, the Salvation Army,
school traffic safety signs, assistance to communities struck
by major natural disasters, National Alliance on Mental
Health, numerous student scholarships, the Gulf Coast Center,
Galveston Fire Department, Ronald McDonald House, Galveston
West Isle Little League, AID's Coalition of Texas, Maya
Crew, Galveston Art Center, UTMB Police Department and Boy
Scouts of America.
Our
club recently completed the placement of 74 school traffic
safety signs at the approaches to all the public and private
schools in the City of Galveston. These signs read Drive
Carefully - Protect Our Children and display the Rotary
Logo. The students and parents of all of our public and
private schools should benefit from an increased awareness
of our various school zones and the need to drive cautiously
when approaching our schools. This project involved the
direct or indirect participation and cooperation of our
club members, the administration & staff of Galveston
Independent School District and leaders & staff of the
City of Galveston; all of whose involvement was essential
in order for this service project to materialize.
Look
for other service projects in the coming months that are
planned to commemorate our Centennial.
Membership
in Rotary is open to anyone with an interest in participating
in and supporting these types of activities. Rotary encourages
regular attendance; however, perfect attendance is not required.
Rotary encourages membership from all professions, but does
not limit its membership to a certain number of individuals
in a given profession. Rotary is open to all ages, from
those who have recently entered a profession to those who
are nearing the end of their careers or even in retirement.
If you have an interest in supporting any of the objectives
of rotary, if you are interested in fellowship, if you are
interested in learning more about your community, or if
you have a desire to meet more of the business professionals
and leaders within your community, you should consider membership
in Rotary.
This
past year, the Rotary Club of Galveston hosted its 35th
Annual Chili Supper which is the club's primary fundraiser.
In 2012 the club hosted its 2nd Annual Crawfish Boil, in
conjunction with the Lighthouse Charity Team. Look for this
to be a regular event as well. Our club regularly participates
in Beach Clean Up, provides youth bicycle helmets at the
Grand Kids Festival and sponsors students to its "RYLA"
Rotary Youth Leadership Camp. Any time, any where, any group
is providing a service to our community; rest assured that
if Rotary is not directly involved, our members certainly
are.
Service
above self is born out in the old adage; you get out of
life, what you put into it. All Rotarians continually aspire
to the Rotary Four Way Test. "Of the things we think
say or do, Is it the truth, Is it fair to all concerned,
Will it build good will & better friendships and Will
it be beneficial to all concerned".
The
Rotary Club of Galveston meets upstairs at noon every Wednesday
at Fisherman's Wharf located at 22nd Street and Harborside
Drive in Galveston. Come join us as our guest for lunch
and see what we do.
Tom
C. LaRue
President - Rotary Club of Galveston
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