Reps. Spade, Accavitti, Adamini, Anderson, Angerer, Ball, Baxter, Bennett, Bieda, Brown, Byrnes, Clack, Clemente, Condino, Dillon, Donigan, Elsenheimer, Espinoza, Farhat, Farrah, Gonzales, Gosselin, Green, Hildenbrand, Hopgood, Jones, Kehrl, Kolb, LaJoy, Kathleen Law, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Mayes, McDowell, Miller, Mortimer, Murphy, Nitz, Palmer, Palsrok, Polidori, Sak, Schuitmaker, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Alma Smith, Stewart, Taub, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Vander Veen, Waters, Wojno, Zelenko and Byrum offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 20.
A resolution to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International, and to honor the contributions of Michigan Rotarians by naming February 23, 2005, as Rotary Day, and the week of February 20, 2005, as Rotary Week in the state of Michigan.
Whereas, Rotary International, an organization dedicated to the service and benefit of humankind across the globe since its inception in Chicago on Feb. 23, 1905, whose members then and now hold as their central tenet the promotion of ethical standards in their professional and personal lives. Rotarians live through their motto of "Service Above Self" and embrace the wisdom of the Rotarian Four-Way Test: "Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?" as a guiding principle in their daily affairs. Rotarians provide an outstanding model for conduct in business, community affairs, and government throughout the world; and
Whereas, We recognize that Rotarians’ desire to serve humankind, as reflected in their stated goal of “peacemaking” since 1921. This desire has guided their actions as influential members in their communities, business organizations, and governments throughout the world including the United Nations. The United Nations based their Universal Declaration of Human Rights on a 1940 Rotary resolution and whose educational, scientific, and cultural organization UNESCO was inspired by a London Rotary resolution; and
Whereas, Among the organization's 31,000 clubs and 1.2 million estimated members, Michigan Rotarians have been heavily involved in philanthropy on a global scale. This includes efforts by clubs in Alpena and Midland to combat the spread of polio in Africa as part of the renowned PolioPlus initiative. Efforts of organizations throughout Michigan have contributed significantly to the relief efforts underway in the 11 countries in Asia and Africa ravaged by the recent tsunami; and
Whereas, This philanthropy extends beyond the scope of humanitarian aid to include the education of our youth through the Ambassadorial Scholarship. It is the single largest scholarship for international student exchange programs in the world. It has enabled more than 30,000 men and women from 100 countries to live and learn in other nations; and
Whereas, Michiganians’ involvement in this public service is historic and significant, dating back to the founding years of the organization. Three of Rotary International's 100 oldest clubs include: Club No. 16 in Detroit, established 1910, Club No. 77 in Grand Rapids, established 1913, and Club No. 93 in Saginaw, established 1913. They are among over 250 clubs in the state of Michigan, operating in more than 230 cities in our great state from Adrian to Zeeland, now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Michigan House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Rotary International, and honor the contributions of Michigan Rotarians by naming Feb. 23, 2005, as Rotary Day, and the week of February 20, 2005, as Rotary Week in the state of Michigan; and be it further
Resolved, We honor and applaud the efforts of Rotary International, and join with Rotarians throughout the state in celebrating 100 years of exemplary public service, conducted in the highest and most altruistic standards, in pursuit of the grand and noble desire to bring all the diversity of humankind together and to improve all our lives through dedication and service; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Rotary organizations throughout the state of Michigan.