Honor Rotary Club Centennial

Senate Resolution No. 2971 BY: Senator TEDISCO COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Schenectady 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 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Schenectady; 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, Organized on March 20, 1918, the Rotary Club of Schenectady is composed of over 70 community leaders representing a diverse cross-section of professions who dedicate countless hours of service to improve the quality of life of human beings in the City of Schenectady and throughout the world; and WHEREAS, The Rotary Club of Schenectady engages in countless volunteer projects that benefit an array of nonprofit organizations located in Schenectady, including the Salvation Army, the Schenectady Inner City Ministry, the City Mission of Schenectady, Habitat for Humanity of Schenectady County and the Schenectady County Public Library; and WHEREAS, Members of this vital organization volunteer on projects which beautify the city of Schenectady including the clean-up of Vale Park and a section of the Interstate 890 highway system; and WHEREAS, The Rotary Club of Schenectady and the Rotary Club of Schenectady Foundation, Inc. award substantial grants annually to local nonprofit organizations in support of their respective missions and provide scholarship assistance to graduating Schenectady High School seniors; and WHEREAS, Furthermore, the organization provides international support through participation in Rotary International's campaign to eradicate polio and sponsors a water filtration project that provides access to clean water for hundreds of Haitians; and WHEREAS, The Rotary Club of Schenectady also sponsors a Rotaract Club for students attending Schenectady County Community College, and an Interact Club for students at Schenectady High School to introduce local youth to civic engagement and community service; and WHEREAS, The Rotary Club of Schenectady is noted for its place in the Capital Region and world history through its development and funding of the Rotary Boy Scout Camp at Pilot Knob on Lake George in the early 1920s, better known today as the Capital District YMCA's Camp Chingachgook; the hosting of a meeting at Proctor's RKO Theatre in the early 1930s at which WGY conducted one of the first around the world short-wave radio broadcasts which linked the Schenectady Rotary Club with clubs in London and Australia; the hosting of a meeting in December of 1939, of over 500 Rotarians from Eastern New York State at General Electric's "House of Magic" who, for the first time ever, could speak to and be seen by audiences in three cities at the same time on a network television program; and the development of Rotary Gateway Park in Schenectady, a welcome destination for many people traveling on the Mohawk River; and WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proudly moved to honor and commend the members of the Rotary Club of Schenectady, 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 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Schenectady; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to the Rotary Club of Schenectady.