Port Elgin Rotary is now a

Septuagenarian

Port Elgin Rotary President, Erin Zorzi and District Governor, Kelly Fotheringham

In the spring of 1938, with the assistance of the Owen Sound Rotary Club, the Port Elgin Rotary Club, was founded and, on Wednesday, October 29th, the Port Elgin Rotary celebrated both its 70th anniversary and the Paul Harris Fellows Awards. (see awards)

As part of Rotary International, the service club consisting of business leaders in the community, focuses on  many humanitarian and educational projects.  Whether working with students on educational exchanges or helping to support not-for-profit seniors' housing, Rotarians have quietly lead the way in developing programs that help every age.

The object of Rotary is 'to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of wothy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster, among other things, the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service'.

It wasn't until 1989, that the organization 'voted to allow women into clubs worldwide'.  Today, Rotary has more than 145,00 women members and Erin Zorzi is the first woman President in Port Elgin.

District Governor, Kelly Fotheringham, explained that the Rotarian theme for 2008 is 'Make Dreams Real' with the a special emphasis on changing the world's infant mortality rate.  "It's hard to believe but 35,000 children under the age of five, die every day.  One of Rotary's goals is to eradicate polio, which has seen a resurgence.  Bill Gates and his wife have recently given $100 million to Rotary to help stop polio around the world, with two conditions.  One, that we raise a matching amount and, two, that we spend all the money within a year.  So far, this year, we have raised $32 million."

Rotary clubs around the world are working not only to eradicate diseases such as polio but they are fostering students in programs such as the World Peace Scholarships.  The two-year program, offered in only six universities in the world, offers nominated graduate students the opportunity to work in international organizations such as NATO, the UN, world governments and for leaders that include royalty.

"Rotarians get as much as they give," said Kent Milroy, Master of Ceremonies.

(continued)

Owner of the Queen's Hotel, Pier Donnini and owner of Herbal Magic, Cheryl Goetz