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Susan Maddox President |
E welina Rotarians, family and friends. Welcome to the Rotary Club of North Hawaii website. Located in beautiful upcountry Kamuela on Hawaii Island, our club’s initial charter #135 was issued December 31, 1954 in the name of Hamakua, Hawaii, U.S.A. On March 4, 1965, the charter transferred to Rotary Club of North Hawaii. Service above self and the 4-Way Test are our guiding principles, and we strive to support our local, island, state and international community through our ongoing projects, fundraising events and fellowship activities. Our Club meets at noon on Wednesdays at Daniel Thiebaut Restaurant (http://danielthiebaut.com), 65-1259 Kawaihae Road in Kamuela. Please join us! |
Rotary Club of North Hawaii
What is Rotary?
Rotary is an organization of business and
professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service,
encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and
peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotarians, members of
more than 29,000 Rotary clubs in 167 countries. Rotary is a service club, so
our product is service. Rotarians provide community service to both local and
international communities. It is one of the best reasons for becoming a
Rotarian. It’s the dedication to do something for somebody else, and the chance
to sense the fulfillment that comes with participation. In turn, it provides
satisfaction in our own life and rewards our communities.
A Brief History
On February 23, 1905, a Chicago lawyer, Paul P.
Harris, called three friends to a meeting. What he had in mind was a club that
would kindle fellowship among members of the business community. It was an idea
that grew from his desire to find within the large city the kind of friendly
spirit that he knew in the villages where he had grown up. The four businessmen
didn't decide then and there to call themselves a Rotary club, but their
get-together was, in fact, the first meeting of the world's first Rotary club.
As they continued to meet, adding others to the group, they rotated their
meetings among the members' places of business, hence the name. Soon after the
club name was agreed upon, one of the new members suggested a wagon wheel
design as the club emblem. It was the precursor of the familiar cogwheel emblem
now worn by Rotarians around the world. By the end of 1905, the club had 30
members. The second Rotary Club was formed in 1908 half a continent away from
Chicago in San Francisco, California. It was a much shorter leap across San
Francisco Bay to Oakland, California where the third club was formed. Others
followed in Seattle, Washington, Los Angeles, California, and New York City,
New York. Rotary became international in 1910 when a club was formed in
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. By 1921 the organization was represented on every
continent, and the name Rotary International was represented on every
continent. The name Rotary International was adopted in 1922.
The Rotary Emblem
Rotary's first emblem was a simple wagon wheel (in
motion with dust) representing civilization and movement. Montague Bear, a
designer by profession, designed this emblem in 1905. As a result, many Rotary
Clubs of the time adopted the wheel in one form or another. In 1922,
authorization was given to create and preserve an official emblem, and the
following year the present gear wheel with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted.
A keyway was added to signify that the wheel was a "worker and not an
idler". At the Rotary International Convention in 1929, royal blue and
gold were chosen as the official colors.
Rotary
International theme 2009-2010
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