April, 2006 My Fellow Rotarians - Rotary's Global History Fellowship

District 6440 Histories 2005
I emphasized the avenues of service by mainly relying on the service chairs to set the agenda for the
meetings. We worked at the administrative necessities as well, incorporating the club to encourage
participation by giving more legal protection for the service of club volunteers. The club photo
directory, “The Blue Book”, was updated and printed to facilitate fellowship and effective working
relationships. We reemphasized our working relationship with the Arlington Morning club, enjoying
their fellowship while being able to serve more. The process of reviewing the club’s 1970’s bylaws was
started. A new club flag was approved, reflecting pride and service in the community.
The year’s international visitors brought broadened understanding and shared enjoyment. We hosted a
visiting GSE team from Sweden and supported the effort to send a team to Norway. Our in-bound
exchange student was Pablo from Brazil...giving many of us the vicarious excitement and rewards of a
teenage son! Plans were laid for an outbound student as well.
Internationally we renewed our involvement in the Heifer Project – giving cattle as a self-renewing, selfsupporting
form of aid for impoverished countries. Funds were given or committed to help dig wells in
India, support an orphanage in Jamaica, and supply equipment to a hospital in Mexico.
One-on-one involvement is important for building productive friendships and providing service.
Members continued to volunteer for the periodic immunization clinic at the village hall. A community
appearance and environmental effort, Adopt-A-Mile, was implemented after several years of efforts with
governmental bodies, club members picking up trash along Arlington Heights Road. The Pizza Booth
fund-raising effort was reinstated at the village heritage Frontier Day’s– we made more money than we
ate up! It was an enjoyable year for involved members.
Locally, payment was made and a plaque posted to acknowledge the clubs’ long effort to contribute of a
grove of trees at the park district’s Lake Arlington. A special effort and donation was made to support
anti-drug and police relations program in the local schools, D.A.R.E. Contributions were made to
several organizations and activities, including to the schools’ Science Olympiad, the middle schools’
Guide to Presidential Elections, post-prom alternatives to graduation alcohol parties, seed money for the
girl’s high school basketball tourney, the Teen Center, and the Special Olympics. A contribution was
made for the combined police and firemen’s recognition statue in the town center. Audio visual
equipment was given to the Arlington Historical Society.
‘95/’96 was the 40 th anniversary of the club. Service and fellowship is what has kept us together and
renewing. Our anniversary celebration for club members and spouses was a luncheon at Rotary
International Headquarters with the International President. It was a special year for me, too, not only
because of the opportunity to serve, but also because I was installed as president by my father, Bob
Paddock, Sr., a past-president as well.
1996-97 – James Hassenplug was president of the club, Karen Kline was Governor of District 6440,
Luis Vincente Giay was president of R.I. with the theme of “Build the Future with Action and Vision.”
During this Rotary year, our club had an average of 76 very active members attending 91% of meetings.
All four avenues of service exceeded all of their goals to win the “Presidential Citation Award!” Some
honorable mentions: 27 from our club attended the District Conference; 3 members and spouses
attended the International Convention in Glasgow Scotland; Christmas Holiday project served 26 needy
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