Rotary Foundation Goals

In the magnificent history of the Elizabethtown Rotary Club written by Ron Stratton in 2001 there is a list of 93 members and friends of the club who had become Paul Harris Fellows through our Club. At that time, our total giving to the Foundation had reached $128,870.

As of May 21, 2009, our club is credited with a total of 120 Paul Harris Fellows and $211, 897.31 in total giving. In just 8 years our club members have managed to give $$83,000 to the Rotary Foundation. That is an amazing record, and we ought to be proud of our collective generosity.

But here are some other interesting statistics that tell the story in a different way. The total contribution has come from 67 current members of our club and 121 contributors who never were, or are not now members of our club.

The most surprising statistic, to me, is that there are 19 members of our club who have NEVER made a single contribution to the Foundation. That's 20% of our members, or one in five.

And so I want to salute President Joe Rebman for making one of his key goals for next year 100% participation by our club members in this major charity effort of Rotary. Every member of the Elizabethtown Rotary Club will be asked to make a committment to become a Sustaining Member of the Foundation by pledging to give $100 per year, which can be added to your quarterly dues and meals billing.

Think of it this way: when you go to church, you contribute to the benevolences of your congregation or denomination. That is what helps define you as a member of that church community. And it should be no less in Rotary. The most important programs of humanitarian aid and world service of Rotary International are conducted through its foundation-- if Rotarians don't support it, how can we expect others to follow our lead? EVERY MEMBER, EVERY YEAR!
A VERY WORTHY AND ACHIEVABLE ROTARY CLUB GOAL!

--Tom Labagh, PP