HR0192 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0192 LRB094 11682 CSA 43365 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, February 23, 2005, marked the 100th anniversary of the beginning of Rotary International in Chicago in 1905; and

WHEREAS, The Rotarians of Mt. Vernon celebrated this occasion with a signed proclamation by Mayor Milt Sees and a joint meeting of Mt. Vernon Rotary and Mt. Vernon Rotary West; and

WHEREAS, Rotary started in Mt. Vernon in 1920; the history is rich with such past presidents as Myrl Lumbattis, Carl Schweinfurth, J.L. Buford, Harold J. Howard, and Curtis Starr; and

WHEREAS, The Rotary club grew, creating the opportunity for a second club to start in 1983; through the years, the Mt. Vernon Rotary clubs have been known for their community works that have supported the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self", one of which has been to assist in the international efforts to eradicate polio by 2005; local members have raised money and supported the Rotary Foundation to assist Rotarians vaccinating millions of children around the globe from this disfiguring disease; and

WHEREAS, To enhance better world understanding, international students from such places as Russia, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Germany, Australia, and France have lived with Rotarians in Mt. Vernon; and

WHEREAS, Mt. Vernon students have been assisted in world study to Germany, Japan, and Britain; members have been active participants in the Group Study Exchange to send and receive citizens from Thailand, Italy, South Africa, Argentina, Japan, and Russia and prepare for the new exchange with Germany this spring; and

WHEREAS, Locally, presidents Clete Winkelman and David Lister work together with their members to support work at Mt. Vernon Township High School with the Strive Program; this program enables Rotarians to share skills with high school students to enter vocational areas prepared with life skills in budgeting, resume writing, and interviewing knowledge; other local activities include flag service on the holidays, trivia nights, Cedarhurst food sales, City Wide Clean Up, Christmas tree recycling, blood drives, and scholarships that are offered by both clubs in Mt. Vernon for students to further their education; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Mt. Vernon Rotary clubs on the 100th anniversary of the beginning of Rotary International in Chicago and extend our sincere appreciation for the fellowship, community service, and contributions the Rotarians of Mt. Vernon provide to their community; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Mt. Vernon Rotary and Mt. Vernon Rotary West clubs as an expression of our esteem.