Thank you for your Votes! Best Civic Club 2026!
Thank you for voting us Best Civic Club in 2025 & 2026 in Palestine Herald Press Reader's Choice "Best of" Voting.
We appreciate your support!
Stories
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2026 Downtown Rotary Scholarship RecipientsThe future is in great hands!  2026 Downtown Rotary Scholarship Recipients. These remarkable students each received a $1000 sholarship. Scholarship Recipients: -Kailana Nguyen (Palestine) -Ella Lively (Elkhart) -Madison Mitchell (Palestine) -Symphony Johnson (Palestine) -Reuben Vasquez (Palestine,no pic) We are rooting for you all!  |
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100% Paul Harris Club!We had previously reach 100% PHF Status, but a few membership changes since and we had fallen off. Happy to be back to 100% status! We had a great time tonight with our Paul Harris Party! Congratulations to all the recipients at tonight's event. More pics & details coming.
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Mother's Day Project at LegacyWe delivered some Mother Day Treats to the ladies at Legacy Nursing Home   Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Downtown Rotary Club!      |
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Historic Marker Weekend Cleanup ProjectHere are a few highlights from our Historic Marker Weekend 2026!  We had over 50 volunteers come out to help wash and restore more than 45 historic markers across Palestine, TX with Palestine Visitor's Center! Thank you to everyone who came out and lent a hand.  Your efforts help preserve Anderson County's history and keep these stories alive for generations to come.       |
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Major Donor - SLOAN SHUFFLER!!We are proud to celebrate Sloan Shuffler, who is is recognized as a major donor for the Rotary Foundation. She said it took 20 years to do it, but she did it! We are so proud of her!     |
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Fans & Cans Drive 2026*FAN DRIVE 2026* We are collecting fans for those without AC to use this summer. Drop off at Commercial Bank of Texas on the Loop or Downtown at Picket Fence Realty by May 30, 2026
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Hugh Summers Awards PHF AwardsCongratulations to Greg Gunnels, Christophe Trahan, Mike Abrahamson & Kelli Gunnels on your Paul Harris Fellow Awards! Thank you to Hugh Summers for bestowing these awards on these deserving Rotarians  |
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Downtown Cleanup before the festival!Thank you to all who came out to clean out the downtown alleys/streets before Dogwood Trails Festival      |
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March 2026 Veterans BreakfastThank you to all who came out to the cook & serve at the Veterans Breakfast!    Thank you to our sponsors Rollo Insurance - Palestine & Rhone Funeral Home      |
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Dogwood Sculpture Ribbon CuttingThe ribbon cutting for the Downtown Rotary Club’s commissioned dogwood sculpture, by Jeffie Brewer, that was installed by the Palestine Farmers Market. Artist Jeffie Brewer, a native of Palestine, Downtown Rotary Club President Lisa Priest acting as the official ribbon cutter to commemorate the sculpture's official "opening"     |
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Cheers & Beers Fundraiser 2026 was a Success!Thank you to all our generous sponsors & Rotarian volunteers for making this year's fundraiser a success!!         |
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Dogwood Sculpture Installation Day!The Downtown Rotary Club’s commissioned dogwood sculpture, by Jeffie Brewer, was installed today down by the Palestine Farmers Market. Artist Jeffie Brewer, a native of Palestine, is pictured with Downtown Rotary Club of Palestine President Lisa Priest.  |
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February Veterans BreakfastHappy to cook & serve the Veterans Breakfast at MOW Palestine this morning  thank you to Rhone Funeral Home for sponsoring the meal! |
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Downtown Rotary Scholarships 2026! If you know an Anderson County High School Senior, please send them this info! Download application here: https://tinyurl.com/2f4sta9h
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Rotarians serve Breakfast to VeteransWe were honored to provide a pancake & sausage breakfast to our county Veterans this morning at Meals on Wheels     |
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Rotary Acts of Kindness in PalestineDowntown Rotarians stopped by with treats for the Palestine Public Works & Water Department to say thanks for all the behind-the-scenes work that makes a big difference   |
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Adopt-a-HighwayAdopt-a-highway litter cleanup bright and early Saturday morning. Thanks to all who came out!   |
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Coat Drive!Thank you to all who donated to our coat drive!   coats have been delivered to Hope Station outreach.  |
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Wreaths Across America 2025We got a little wet but still had fun while honoring our Veterans! Wreaths Across America 2025         |
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2025 Christmas Parade Volunteer2025 Christmas Parade Lineup Crew from our Club!   |
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Club Awards!Congratulations to past president Rachael for the 3 awards given to our club by District 5910!  |
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Arbor Day Tree Planting Happy Arbor Day! We are happy to have been able to donate trees for Calhoun Park in partnership with the City of Palestine!   |
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Downtown Alley CleanupThanks to all who came out to the Downtown Alleys cleanup! The alleys look much better and are now festival-ready! See you at Hot Pepper Festival!       |
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New Rotary Year Begins - President Lisa Priest & New Board!A new Rotary year begins! New President Lisa Priest & Board are ready to work! Thanks to Rachael Johnson for the celebration treats!   |
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2025 Fans & Cans Drive was a Big Success! Thanks to all who donated!Thank you to all who donated to our 2025 fans and cans drive!  The fans will go to those without AC this summer and the cans are to the stock pot! (Missed photo at first loading but got pic the 2nd go around!) |
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June 2025 Father’s Day at Greenbrier Nursing Home  |
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Rotarians at the United Way food packing event a few weeks ago!   |
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Veterans Family Breakfast |
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Rotary District 5910 Award Winners!A huge congratulations to Brenda Hicks Johnston,Roll of Fame Recipient and Debbie Wacha, District Avenues of Service Award Recipient, Mike Abrahamson, District Avenues of Service Award Recipient and Lisa Gaines-Griffith, District Avenues of Service Award Recipient at the Rotary 5910 conference this past weekend. Thank you for all you do for our club and community!    |
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Adopt-a-Highway Spring Litter PickupThanks to all who came out for the litter pickup for our Adopt-a-Highway bright and early this morning!       |
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BLOOD DRIVE SIGN UPS!SAVE A LIFE! GIVE BLOOD!  Setup your time slot for April 26th HERE: https://www.greatpartners.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/161999 |
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Cat Food Donation to BARC Humane SocietyWe dropped off a donation of cat food today at Anderson County, BARC The Humane Society. They are open today for adoptions until 4pm and on Saturday and Sunday from noon-4pm!   |
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Cheers & Beers Fundraiser 2025 was a huge success!Thanks to all who came out to our fundraiser and to our generous sponsors! We appreciate you all!    |
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PETS Training WeekendThis weekend our President Elect for 2025-26 (Lisa Priest) & President Nominee for 2026-27 (Greg Gunnels) attended Rotary Lone Star PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) to prepare for our upcoming duties. We are hyped with ideas and inspiration and ready to bring it to Palestine!  |
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2025 College Scholarship Application now available! - Apps due March 28th!Attention Anderson County High School Seniors!! *College Scholarship Applications are due March 28th!* Please share & tag any HS Seniors you know  --->>>>>download app here: https://bit.ly/DowntownRotary2025ScholarshipApp  |
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Welcome to our new member Jeffrey Roberson! |
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Destination Dinner- 1st Quarter 2025We had a great (and delicious) time at our Destination Dinner social to Leona Steakhouse!   |
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BARC Humane Society yard cleanup day!Thanks to all who came out this morning for our BARC Humane Society cleanup! |
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COAT DRIVE 2025- Downtown Palestine Rotary ClubLet's keep EVERYONE warm! Can Drop off at CBTX in Palestine or send us a message and we will arrange pickup!  |
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2025 Fundraiser - Sponsors Needed!How do we pay for all of the projects we do? From the funds raised at our yearly fundraiser! We need your sponsorship! Please call/text Debbie Wacha at 903-724-4221 if you would like to sponsor this year's event. Tickets on sale soon!  |
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December Project: 1st Baby of the Year Basket for PRMCEnding the year with our December project! We donated a basket to Palestine Regional Medical Center to be given o the parents of the first baby of 2025!   |
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Adopt-A-Highway Litter clean up Fall 2024 Project completeThanks to all who came out for the litter cleanup for our Adopt-A-Highway section on the Loop!  |
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Rotary District 5910 Foundation DinnerDistrict 5910 Foundation Dinner this past Saturday  |
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Downtown Alleys Cleanup ProjectDowntown Alleys Cleanup Project Pics - Thanks to all who came out early this morning to cleanup the alleys before Hot Pepper Festival    |
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Upcoming Project Alert: Adopt-a-Highway!Sneak Peek at upcoming project  Bill Kapela has headed up our project to Adopt-A-Highway and the adoption is official!  Our first litter cleanup day is coming soon, stay tuned! |
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Polio Plus Goodie Basket Auctioned OffCongrats to Linda Dickens for the winning bid on the gorgeous custom basket of goodies made by Rachael Johnson with proceeds going to Polio Plus!  |
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Fun times at our Destination Dinner Social at Roma Italian Bistro in Jacksonville!  |
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September Project- Decorate/Setup event for Meals on Wheels FundraiserSeptember Project: Meals on Wheels to help set up tables and decorate for their fundraising Gala! Meals on Wheels serves homebound seniors and disabled individuals throughout the 3,078 square miles of Anderson, Cherokee, and Rusk Counties in East Texas, providing more than 280,000 meals annually through home delivered and congregate programs. These meals reach our most vulnerable, food insecure seniors. The meals provide one-third of the recommended daily dietary requirements for seniors. For many clients, it is their only meal of the day.     |
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Mural Project for Crisis Center of Anderson & Cherokee Counties CompletedMural project is complete at Second Glance Resale, where sales benefit the Crisis Center of Anderson & Cherokee Counties. Go by and check it out and buy some treasures for a great cause!   |
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Rotary International Club Rotary Citation awardWe are thrilled to have received the Rotary International Club Rotary Citation award for the 2nd time since our founding. Way to go Downtown Rotarians, we are 2 for 2 so far!    |
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Rotary Acts of Kindness: Donut Deliveries to all the teachers in Anderson County for Back to School      |
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We had a great time with our Rotary 5910 District Governor Leon Willhite & Assistant Governor Sam Smith!    |
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A lovely time was had at our July Service Project - Nursing Home Bingo!   |
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Perfect Attendance Awards for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year |
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Lower Lake Benches Project is Complete!Thanks to all who helped on this project at Lower Lake! The benches are beautiful and in a gorgeous setting!           |
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Congratulations Rachael Johnson on your Roll of Fame Award!! Great job!Congratulations Rachael Johnson on your Roll of Fame Award!! Great job!  |
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Veterans Park Project Work Day #1 Shout out to everyone who came out (not all pictured). Next work day coming soon!        |
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Thank you to everyone for coming to our fundraiser & for all those who helped to make it happen!
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2024 College Scholarship Applications Open ! Attention Anderson County Graduating Seniors! Scholarship Applications now open! **Please tag & share to any Anderson County High school seniors that you know!** download application here: https://bit.ly/2024downtownScholarshipApp  |
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Cheers & Beers Fundraiser! Only 37 Tickets Left for Cheers & Beers Fundraiser! (Yes, there will be wine also!)Get yours before they sell out! Tickets will not be sold at the door. March 8th at 6pm! This is going to be a fun event & we hope to see you there! Please share & tag your friends!  Tables & Sponsorships Available! For ticket sales, call/text Rachael Johnson at 903-922-3683  |
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End Polio Now Fundraiser: Take It To The StreetMark your calendars Thursday October 26…5:30-7:30… to join us! Net proceeds support the Rotary Foundation’s Polio eradication efforts!  |
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September Service Project: Hope Station First Aid KitsWe delivered more than 50 personal sized first aid kits and a trunk load of food to Hope Station to aid them in their mission. Charlene Watson, Debbie Wacha and Sloan Shuffler were on hand to deliver. Thank you to all who helped!      |
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Rotary Acts of Kindness!Random acts of kindness! Cookies delivered to Palestine PD and FD in appreciation for all they do for the city!    |
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We are a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club!Way to go Downtown Rotary Club of Palestine! We are a 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club!  |
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Rotarians with 5-20+ Years of Service Above Self!  |
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June 2023 Project - Father's Day Goody Bags to Nursing Home ResidentsJune project: Collected, packaged & delivered Father's Day Goody Bags to Palestine Healthcare Center. Thanks to all who helped with this project!  |
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2022-2023 Perfect Attendance Awards2022-2023 Perfect Attendance Awards. Total of 20 Rotarians had perfect attendance this year--a few more than pictured who were absent at pic time ;)  |
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2023-2024 Downtown Rotary BoardThe 2023-2024 Downtown Rotary Board is ready for a great year of fun and community impact! A few not pictured, so we will have to recreate the fun again soon.  |
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Fan Drive 2023 was a success! Fan Drive 2023 was a success! Thanks to Greg & Cory for overseeing this project. Great tetris-ing into the car! Thank you to all who graciously donated fans to help those without A/C to survive the summer heat to go to the Palestine Resource Center.   |
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We Are Collecting Fans! We are collecting fans for seniors to be delivered to Palestine Resource Center during the first week of May. Breakdown of important dates for collecting fans for seniors in the month of April. April 15th (1-4pm) - Redlands Hotel - Greg & Cory April 18th (5:30-7pm) - Regular Rotary meeting (you may bring to meeting) April 20th (5-8pm) - Greg & Cory will be "on-call" to pick up donations from your porch! Please contact via Facebook if you have fans to donate. April 27th (5-8pm) - Greg & Cory will be "on-call" to pick up donations from your porch! Please contact via Facebook if you have fans to donate. We are grateful for all donations! |
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March project - Humane Society Storm CleanupThis week we completed our March Project of cleaning up storm damage at Anderson County BARC Humane Society. Thank you to our awesome crew of Rotarians for getting the job done!    |
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Downtown Rotary Welcomes 2 New Members!Quick pic after tonight’s meeting! We will have to do this one again before everyone leaves next time! Great things in the works, stay tuned! Welcome Debbie & Heather!  |
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Downtown Palestine Rotary Blankets & Coats Collection Drive for Hope StationDowntown Palestine Rotary Blankets & Coats Collection Drive for Hope Station Rotarians & community donations were collected and dropped off at Hope Station to replenish the coats & blankets for upcoming cold weather. Thanks to all those who donated to this great cause.   |
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First Baby Project & First Project of 2023 Complete!First Baby of the New Year 2023! Welcome to the world Lilly!  |
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Downtown Rotary Club of Palestine Welcomes 4 New Members!Downtown Rotary Welcomes 4 New MembersA warm welcome to our new members Kathy Thomas, Lisa Gaines Griffin, Lee McCain Brown and Charlene Watson! We are thrilled to have these ladies in the club!  |
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AWARDS - PALESTINE DOWNTOWN ROTARY CLUBRoll of Fame Award Recipients:
Avenues of Service Recipients- Community Service
Avenues of Service Recipients- Youth Service
Avenues of Service Recipients- Vocational Service
Avenues of Service Recipients: (Pre-2025-general award / no categories)
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Holiday Cheer at Dogwood Trails Assisted Living - November 2022 ProjectNovember 2022 Project Completed -We were lucky enough to get to hang out with the residents at Dogwood Trails Asst. Living & spread some holiday cheer. Special thank you to our project partners Cream & Coffee and Eilenberger Bakery! #ServiceAboveSelf #CommunityMatters     |
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September 2022 Project - Refreshing the Kid's Room at the Crisis Center
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October 2022 Project - Helping Meals on WheelsOctober Project - Completed! October project: Helping to Decorating Meals on Wheels for their annual fundraising banquet. Thanks to all the Rotarians who came out to assist!       |
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Downtown Rotary Club of Palestine AwardsRotary Club Citation/Rotary Club Excellence Award
Palestine Herald Press - Best of Awards - Best Civic Club
Roll of Fame Award Recipients:
Avenues of Service Recipients- Community Service
Avenues of Service Recipients- Youth Service
Avenues of Service Recipients- Vocational Service
Avenues of Service Recipients: (Pre-2025-general award / no categories)
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Historic Night of Firsts for Our Club!On September 6th, 2022, our newly chartered club gathered to celebrate in style at the Redlands meeting room. We had delicious cake, champagne and a lovely meal after the meeting.     |
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Save the date - Downtown Palestine Rotary Christmas PartySave the Date - The Downtown Rotary Christmas Party will be December 6th. Bring your family! More details to follow as event date approaches.  |
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Downtown Rotary Club of Palestine - Service Project Calendar Service Project Calendar for 2024-2025 Rotary Years (Rotary Year Runs from July 1-June 30
PAST PROJECTS Service Project Calendar for 2022-2024 Rotary Years
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Rotary’s Response to the 1918 Flu Pandemic
This is how Rotary responded to the influenza pandemic that began in 1918 and came in three waves, lasting more than a year. The Rotary Club of Berkeley, California, USA, meets in John Hinkel Park during the 1918 flu pandemic. |
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Rotary at the Start of the United Nations
During World War II, Rotary informed and educated members about the formation of the United Nations and the importance of planning for peace. Materials such as the booklet “From Here On!” and articles in The Rotarian helped members understand the UN before it was formally established and follow its work after its charter. Many countries were fighting the war when the term “United Nations” was first used officially in the 1942 “Declaration by United Nations.” The 26 nations that signed it pledged to uphold the ideals expressed by the United States and the United Kingdom the previous year of the common principles “on which they based their hopes for a better future for the world.”
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History of Women in RotaryWomen are active participants in Rotary, serving their communities in increasing numbers and serving in leadership positions in Rotary. The 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs worldwide remains a watershed moment in the history of Rotary. “My fellow delegates, I would like to remind you that the world of 1989 is very different to the world of 1905. I sincerely believe that Rotary has to adapt itself to a changing world,” said Frank J. Devlyn, who would go on to become RI president in 2000-01. The vote followed the decades-long efforts of men and women from all over the Rotary world to allow the admission of women into Rotary clubs, and several close votes at previous Council meetings.
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Young Inventor Eco-Friendly Bricks Come Full Circle
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First Club in Philippines Opens Door to Rotary in Asia
The club would be the only one in the country for more than 12 years. Eventually, Manila club members organized Rotary clubs in the Philippine cities of Cebu (1932) and Iloilo (1933). Iloilo club members then started a club in Bacolod (1937), and Rotary continued to expand across the country. |
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An estimated 500 million people worldwide became infected. Many cities closed theaters and cinemas, and placed restrictions on public gatherings. Rotary clubs adjusted their activities while also helping the sick.
Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.
Every hero has an origin story. “I was 10 years old when the entire journey started,” explains Binish Desai. It began with a cartoon called Captain Planet, an animated TV series from the 1990s about an environmentalist with superpowers. Desai can still recite the show’s refrain: Captain Planet, he’s our hero / Gonna take pollution down to zero! “That tagline stuck in my mind,” he says. “I wanted to do something to help Captain Planet.”
In early 1919, Rotarian Roger Pinneo of Seattle, Washington, USA, traveled to the Philippines to try to organize a Rotary club in Manila. Leon J. Lambert, a Manila business leader helped Pinneo establish the club. Several months later, on 1 June 1919, the Rotary Club of Manila was chartered and became the first Rotary club in Asia.