Honor Rotary Club Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 2225 BY: Senator JACOBS COMMEMORATING the 75th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Hamburg, on February 24, 2017 WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the citizens of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Hamburg on Friday, February 24, 2017; and WHEREAS, The world's first service club, Rotary International, was founded on February 23, 1905, when Paul Harris, a native of Vermont, found himself a stranger in the city of Chicago; he conceived the idea of inviting three men of different vocations to join him weekly for fellowship and to discuss each other's problems and business; and WHEREAS, Today, Rotary International has grown into an organization including over 1.2 million members in approximately 29,000 clubs across

163 countries; each club is made up of business and professional leaders who are dedicated to humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help to build peace and goodwill throughout the world; and WHEREAS, Through the years, the Rotary Club of Hamburg has supported the community by providing the Hamburg Volunteer Fire Department with their first emergency rig in 1942, to constructing the cupola on the brand new Hamburg Village Hall in 1967; currently, they raise funds with events such as Breakfast With the Bunny and Burgerfest, to combine community service and fun; and WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Rotary Club of Hamburg has sustained numerous organizations which better the community including, the Hamburg Counseling Service, the Hamburg Paleontological Society's Penn Dixie Fossil Site and the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program and Cradle Beach Camp in Angola, New York, which serves children with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged; and WHEREAS, Dedicated to the youth of the community, the Rotary Club of Hamburg funds a literacy program for children and provides college scholarships and mentors the next generation of community leaders through Rotary's Leadership Program (RYLA) for college-aged young adults and SLAPSHOT for high school students; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend the members of the Rotary Club of Hamburg, past and present, who have labored so conscientiously to secure and improve the quality of life for the community it serves by perpetuating its motto of Service Above Self; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Hamburg, on