Posted by Co-President Jack Kraan:
Rotary’s first community service project took place in 1907, when Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder, ran a campaign to have a public comfort station installed at the city hall in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The campaign was successful in spite of opposition from saloons and department stores that provided these facilities to attract customers.
As the years passed, club members began increasingly to improve their surroundings in a spirit of service. For example, in the early days of the automobile age, Rotarians in San Jose, California, in just one afternoon, placed more than 1,000 identifying street signs at the city’s intersections.
Community service projects are an ideal way to help our community and raise our profile with the public. An increased profile will assist us in attracting like-minded people to become new members.
Community projects are also an excellent vehicle for involving members of all ages and abilities to be involved in, and make it easy for newer members to assimilate into Rotary and our Club.
A perfect example is our upcoming 'Clean up Australia Day' event at Buchanan Park on Sunday 5th March. There will be jobs available for all and the bonus is that we will be able to enjoy a lovely morning tea and fellowship at the conclusion.
This event is being organised by one of our newest members, Mary McIvor. Please come along and support Mary and our Club, and show the community that we are a vibrant Club.
Co-President Jack Kraan
