|
New Bennington Banner Rotary Articles..
Banner Article from Rotary
August, 2008
Welcome to the first in a series of articles about Rotary and the many wonderful things Rotarians do, not only around the globe but right here in Bennington. Contributors to this monthly column will alternate between the town's two clubs, the Catamount and the Bennington Rotary Clubs.
What is Rotary? First and foremost, Rotary is a service organization providing business and professional men and women a way to make a positive difference in the lives of people from their community and around the world.
Individual Rotary clubs belong to the global association called Rotary International, which is non-sectarian and open to business and professional men and women, regardless of race or creed, who are invited to join by a current member. The mission of Rotary is to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
Rotary clubs meet weekly for breakfast, lunch or dinner, providing an enjoyable social event as well as an opportunity to organize work on service goals. The Catamount Rotary Club meets for breakfast at 7:15 every Tuesday at the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, and the Bennington Rotary Club meets for lunch at 12:15 every Friday at Hunter's American Grill.
In the next column you will read about the Catamount Club's special projects, but as a member of the Bennington Rotary Club, I want to mention some of our club's activities. Last year we finished building (and financing!) the beautiful and imposing Jim Ross Pavilion in Willow Park, on the hillside overlooking Kocher Drive with a spectacular view of Mount Anthony.
Besides the Pavilion, the Bennington Rotary Club supports many local groups and causes, including the Norshaft Lions Community Park in North Bennington, the "Share the Heat" winter fuel fund benefiting low income families; the holiday season "Spirit of Sharing" program supplying needy families with food and children's gifts; the Bennington Deer Park (providing maintenance), the Bennington Energy Committee, the Bennington Coalition for the Homeless, and local literacy and mentoring programs.
On the global level, the Bennington Rotary Club works with all of Rotary International to raise funds aimed at the eradication of polio. Thanks to Rotary, two billion children have been immunized, five million have been spared disability, and over 250,000 deaths from polio have been prevented. This remarkable goal is almost completely met, with only three countries left in the fight to destroy this terrible disease: Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded RI a $100,000,000 challenge grant, which Rotarians around the world will match in the next three years with dollars raised among themselves and in their communities. If this effort sounds remote from life in our quiet corner of Vermont, know that you can make your own important contribution to this cause at Bennington's Garlic Fest at Camelot Village on August 30 and 31. The Bennington Rotary Club will host a booth selling garlic-blessed baked goods, with all proceeds going toward the polio eradication program. Information on this and other Rotary programs will also be available. So come help us win the fight against polio on Labor Day weekend. On September 12 to 14 is our annual Car Show, which raises funds for our community projects. When you support these events, besides having a good time, you are also contributing to many worthy community programs.
We share with the Catamount Club another very special project, involving as well students in the Rotary-affiliated Interact Club at MAUHS. Rotarians and Interact students raise funds throughout the year to help support the small rural community of Somotillo in Nicaragua. The money raised is used to build infrastructure and supply equipment and staples for the entire village. Interact students and their adult advisers usually travel annually to Somotillo, where they provide hands-on help in implementing improvements. Rotarians are encouraged to make the questions of the Rotary Four-Way Test the moral cornerstone of their daily lives: Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned? They believe that any actions so guided will make their community, whether local or global, a better place. This article gives an introduction to the beliefs and actions of an important group not always visible but always hard at work in our community. Look for future articles with more information on the work this great association does in our community and internationally.
By: David Cass - Bennington Rotary President
|
 |
