Making a difference through Rotary

In 1905 Paul Harris, a Chicago attorney, formed the first Rotary Club. His thought was for "professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships and give back to their communities." For over 110 years these directives have been met. Now composed of more than 34,000 clubs, the organization is known as Rotary International.

In 1934 the first Rotary Club in Whitehall was formed. Since that time they have been very active in providing scholarships, recycling of aluminum, hosting the International Dinner, Bicycle Safety in Schools, updating and maintaining the Fish Pond on Legion, providing individual dictionaries to 3rd graders, obtaining wheelchairs for the needy, working on ending Polio and sponsoring the high school youth program "Interact."

On last Monday evening they joined together with other Rotary Club members in the area to celebrate that friendship and the common goals at a potluck dinner at the LaHood Park Campground Pavilion.

Special guest District 5390 Governor Joe McBride presented the Club presidents with the Rotary coin which is inscribed with the Rotary 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? These are the ethical questions Rotary is built upon. Receiving the coin were: David Armstrong of Butte, Deb Hedeen of Dillon, Faye Kneeland of Twin Bridges and Dustin Lewis of Whitehall. He also presented the "star award" to Arlene Weber for being the director of the annual youth leadership camp RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Academy) and an award to Millie Baycroft for her involvement in the Polio Plus Program. She is the District Chairperson of Polio Plus.

McBride was presented with a Wheelchair Certificate by Whitehall President Dustin Lewis. When the Whitehall Rotary Club sends a $150 donation to the Wheelchair Foundation in honor of a local person or group for their community service, the Foundation provides a wheelchair to a needy person. McBride took a moment to emphasis his goals during his tenure. These included hosting Rotary Foreign Exchange Students; being active in the "Strive" Program which is a mentoring program to students; increase the Polio Plus involvement and increase the involvement in presenting Individual Dictionaries to students to break "mental poverty."

The next Rotary event planned is the Watertown Glacier International Peace Park Assembly in late September where Rotarians from Canada and the United States come together in the 'Hands Across the Border' ceremony.

If the reader wishes to be a part of this community involvement organization, contact any Whitehall Rotary Club member. Additional information is available on their website at http://www.rotaryclubofwhitehall.org.