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

District 6440 Histories 2005
Include a “Fun and Frolic” segment at each club meeting to instill camaraderie and fellowship,
combined with painlessly extracting funds to support various club endeavors. Prepare a weekly club
bulletin reflecting current club membership, officers, and directors; a calendar of events; special
announcements; visitors; and guests; a review of current and future club programs and (sometimes) a
discreet cartoon. Each member has the opportunity to obtain quality program presentations to broaden
members’ knowledge of the world around us.
In 1973 under the leadership of Don Russ and Bill Simpson, Wheeling sponsored the chartering of the
Buffalo Grove Rotary Club. Hosted District Conferences in 1979 and 1991.
1959-99 – Community Service:
Celebrate each club anniversary with a Senior Citizen Bingo Party. Sponsor a Thanksgiving or
Christmas Food/Clothing Distribution to needy families, working with the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club,
and the local high schools. Conducted a $1,000 Idea Contest for the best-proposed community project.
Present Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) to high school students. Give Mark Woods Music
Scholarships to elementary schools. Attend monthly immunization clinics at Wheeling High School to
assist health providers. First Aid calculators to every home and business in Wheeling. Perform highway
cleanup with Boy Scouts to support local ecological programs. Held pancake breakfasts, ham dinners,
Ray Rayner shows, circus acts, Big Wheel 500 races for young children, etc. to involve Rotary within
the community. Supported community groups; such as, Omni House, Harper College Foundation, Boy
& Girl Scout Councils, Special & Golden Olympics, family fests, 4 th of July celebrations, Clearbrook
Home, Horizons Children’s Center, etc. At Wheeling High School: “Wildcat” Spur Club, Peer
Counseling Program, English as a Second Language, Presidential Classrooms, Teacher of the Year
Awards, Speech and Debate Scholarships, and sponsored track meet activities, finances, and “Golden
Books” to support Community Education Literacy Program; sponsored students for World Affairs
Seminar; provided funds annually to District 214 Community Education Scholarship Foundation.
1959-99 – Vocational Service:
Acknowledgment of the Four Way Test at each meeting. Distribution of Four Way Test Plaques to
Wheeling schools and businesses. Participated in Wheeling High School’s Project Cooperation.
Conducted Tours of Club Members Businesses and Professions. Presented Vocational Excellence
Awards in Wheeling area. Created a Four Way Test Essay Contest for elementary schools. Included
members Classification Talks in club programs. Sponsored an annual Secretary’s Day special program.
1959-99 – International Service:
Dental chair unit and x-ray machine for Philippines. Books for a new university library in India.
Contribution toward a homeless children’s facility in Lesoto, South Africa. Financed money to dig wells
for drinking water in India. Sponsored an eye clinic for cataract removal in India. In partnership with the
Rotary Clubs of Mundelein, Lake Zurich, and Northbrook AM, supplied an ambulance/mobile clinic for
a region in India. Participated in the PolioPlus Partners Program, providing funds for surveillance
stations in Africa, insulated vaccine carriers (Ghana) and bicycles for vaccine distribution (Togo).
1959-99 – International Youth Hosted Wheeling Rotary came from: Africa, Australia, Brazil, Germany.
1959-99 – Rotary Foundation Programs Supported by Wheeling Club:
Annual Programs Fund - $41,815 (ranking #13 of 71 clubs)
PolioPlus/Matching Grants - $170,000 (ranking #1 of 71 clubs)
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