Rotary Club
of
Guilford Connecticut
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Rotary Club of Guilford Connecticut |
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Rotary Club of Guilford, CT
Post Office Box 32
Guilford, CT 06437-0032
Phone: 203 458-5419
2008 -- CLUB OFFICERS -- 2009
Thomas A. Terribile Paul Heeren
President, 2008-2009 President-Elect, 2008-2009
Donald Baechler Charles Bernhard Michael Ganci Linda Zatkowski
Secretary 2008-2009 Treasurer 2008-2009 Co Sergeant-At-Arms Co Sergeant-At-Arms
What is Guilford Rotary? It is all of the following:
Part of Rotary International
The Rotary Club of Guilford is part of a worldwide organization that consists of more than a million business and professional men and women in more than 29,000 clubs in 160 countries and more clubs are being formed every day. The Guilford Rotary, like every Rotary Club, is a service club. Rotary International's motto is "Service Above Self," and its slogan is "They profit most who serve the best." Our club serves the town, the community, the state and the world through a variety of projects.
A Business and Professional Club
The Rotary Club of Guilford was chartered April 12, 1954. Many of Guilford's professional, business and government leaders are members. The luncheon meetings are an excellent place to stay abreast of what is happening in Guilford and to share experiences with interesting, active people. The weekly meetings held each Wednesday at Anthony's (2392 Boston Post Road) generally include lunch beginning at 12:15 pm, a brief social time, a business meeting and a short program. Because of the nature of the members' positions in the community, meetings must end at 1:30pm so that members can return to their businesses. Sometimes a club project, such as the Senior Citizens Holiday Luncheon, substitutes for a regular meeting.
A Local Service Club
The Guilford Rotary is dedicated, above all else, to serving the Guilford community. Each year the club raises funds that are used for support and betterment of the community. The three major fundraising events are the Frosty 5K Road Race, LobsterFest and Rose Sale. These events are designed to be family oriented and fun for the entire community in addition to raising funds.
Some community projects are solely Rotary projects, such as publication donations to the Guilford Free Library, sponsorship of the Guilford High School Interact Club, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Seniors Holiday Lunch (celebrating its 24th consecutive year in December 2005), Adopt-a-Family, After Prom Party, Reading is Fundamental, Nursing Home Caroling, Dictionaries for Kids, etc. Other projects are done in conjunction with other service organizations, such as Decorating Broad Street for Christmas, DARE, Toys for Tots, Bikes for Kids, Boy Scouts Christmas Tree Recycling, KidCare ID, YMCA Youth in Government Program, Guilford High School Bone Marrow Testing, Crop Walk, Wilderness Adventure, etc. Periodically, a member will suggest a good cause that needs funding. One member heard that a Guilford resident who has lost both legs to diabetes was attempting to set up a hot dog and hamburger picnic for veterans who are amputees. Guilford Rotary funded the event.
There is probably no "good cause" in Guilford that hasn't been helped by the Guilford Rotary Club. In selecting organizations to support, we try to help the young and the old, the healthy and the sick, the able and handicapped, small groups and large organizations. In addition to money, the Club members volunteer many hours of their time to support projects that benefit Guilford.
An International Service Club
Guilford Rotary is very active in International Service projects that help the world's needy and further world peace and understanding. These include World Community Service Project, Disaster Relief, Haitian Health Foundation family support, Haitian Happy Houses, Ambassadorial Scholars, Group Study Exchange, Holiday Youth Exchange, International Youth Exchange, Paul Harris Fellowship, Used Postage Stamp Project and World Peace & Understanding Scholarship.
The Guilford Rotary also supports the Rotary Foundation, which spends $35,000,000 each year in humanitarian and educational projects. The Rotary Foundation is special because every dollar that is donated is spent for its intended purpose--none is spent on overhead. Also, funds from Guilford may, for instance, be used in Africa where they are administered by the local Rotary Club in Africa. A benefit of being part of an international organization comprising many local Clubs is that one is assured of efficient administration of funds.
A Supporter of World Health
One of the top priority projects of Rotary is the eradication of polio. The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus program has that goal. More than one million Rotary volunteers from around the globe have contributed to the success of polio eradication efforts. Rotary members will have given approximately US$500 million to the campaign by the year 2005, the target date for certification of a polio-free world. Rotary is the key private-sector partner in this international health effort. Public-sector partners include the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A Contributor to World Understanding
Through its contribution to and support of the Rotary Foundation, the Guilford Rotary Club promotes world peace and understanding. Rotary operates the largest international exchange program in existence and the scholarship program is the quality of the Rhodes and Fulbright programs but more extensive.
Rotary's exchange and scholarship programs include summer and year-long exchanges for high school students, eight-week exchanges for young business and professional persons, and graduate scholarships for study abroad. Over 10,000 young people participate in these programs each year. In the recent past the Guilford Rotary Club has had their candidates selected numerous times for exchange programs and international study scholarships. Guilford Rotary often sponsors a student to the annual World Affairs Conference.
And Much More
In a brief description of the club, it is impossible to describe all of the accomplishments and activities of the Guilford Rotary Club and Rotary International. Suffice it to say that if you are so inclined, the Club can provide numerous opportunities for you to give back to the community.
Rotarians are dedicated men and women who, as part of an international organization, have an enormous ability to make the world a better place for all of us. If you would like to join this outstanding organization, make your interest known to any member of the Club or contact Membership@GuilfordCTRotay.org.
