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

District 6440 Histories 2005
1990-91 - Robert L. "Bob" Hanson – “Honor Rotary with Faith & Enthusiasm”
(Sub-Theme) Save Planet Earth
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he 1990-91 Rotary Year in District 644 was a story of successes, initiatives, sharing and caring.
Among the years' highlights: After the tornado hit Plainfield, individual Rotarians, as-well-as our
Clubs, sent Governor Bob to the Plainfield Rotary Club with checks and cash totaling over $15,000. In
addition, our District sponsored a breakfast, along with "The Kitchens of Sara Lee", for tornado victims
and rescue workers, and also, sent a supply of teddy bears to help comfort the youngsters. We
entertained our, first ever, mixed gender G.S.E. Team - from Japan. Our mixed gender team was delayed
at Japan's request until the fall of 1991.
Wheaton A.M. and Wauconda were added to our District's list of outstanding new Clubs, along with Mt.
Prospect A.M. The total, after these three, was 62 clubs. Although we had no specific goal in the Interact
area, by the end of the year, we had added two new Interact Clubs. The majority of our Clubs, in line
with the "Preserve Planet Earth" theme initiated "Plant-a-Tree" Programs. Capping off this theme, the
annual Governors/Presidents' "Walk for the Foundation" was held at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. The
District Governor, and many of the Club Presidents, participated in a tree-planting and beautification
program for an inner-city school. The presence of Mayor Daley, and the local city council members,
brought about TV coverage, both for the politicians and Rotary. President Paulo Costa, the RI Directors,
the Rotary Foundation Trustees and 644 members participated in the planting of a "Friendship Tree", in
Wilmette Park, from which hung the flags of the countries where Rotary is active.
All of the following had record breaking attendance: Rotary Information Fellowship; Vocational
Service Seminar Golf Outing; Rotary Foundation Seminar Bowling Tournament; Mid-Year
Presidents Meeting Walk for the Foundation
To supplement our already high level of giving to the Rotary Foundation, two-gallon buckets were
distributed to every Club, the slogans "Change for the Better" and "Pennies for Peace" inscribed thereon.
Concept was for Rotarians to put their loose change in these buckets at every meeting. The concept
worked!! Over $3,000 in loose change was counted, rolled and donated to Rotary Foundation for the
District's account.
PDG Ken Wehrman from Arnold, Nebraska, represented President Costa at our District Conference and
managed to tie together the 4-Way Test and Preserve Planet Earth in his keynote address. We began
planning for a "District 644 Foundation Alumni Association" comprised of all past Rotary Scholars and
G.S.E. Team Members.
"An Evening with Sir Edmund Hillary", the conqueror of Mount Everest, was presented with net
proceeds being split between the Hillary Foundation and the Wilmette Rotary Foundation. Annual
Presidents' Retreat was staged in Hawk's Cay, Florida, under direction of Rotarian Stan Sherman;
another outstanding event, with a record turnout. Rotary Scholar, and film critic, Roger Ebert was the
special luncheon speaker at the Rotary International Zone Institute held in our District; all local
Rotarians were invited; so many showed up that we ran out of space.
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