By Seaman H.R. No. 157 76R5840 GMW-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, On February 10, 1999, the 10 Rotary Texas district 1-2 governors will gather in Austin to celebrate Rotary International 1-3 Day at the State Capitol; and 1-4 WHEREAS, The more than 27,000 members of the 10 Rotary 1-5 districts in Texas have consistently endeavored to improve life in 1-6 their local communities and throughout the world, and their 1-7 tireless efforts truly embody Rotary International's motto of 1-8 "Service Above Self"; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Rotary International is a nonpolitical, nonpartisan, 1-10 and nonreligious organization composed of 1.2 million members in 1-11 527 districts and 159 countries; through the Rotary Foundation of 1-12 R.I., World Community Service, and other philanthropic efforts this 1-13 estimable foundation works to improve the global standard of living 1-14 while promoting international peace; and 1-15 WHEREAS, One example of the many humanitarian programs 1-16 conducted by Rotary International is the Polio Plus program, which 1-17 is dedicated to eradicating the polio virus worldwide; begun in 1-18 1985, the program has devoted more than $400 million to vaccinating 1-19 countless people around the globe against this crippling illness; 1-20 and 1-21 WHEREAS, The Rotary Foundation has recently instituted the 1-22 Children's Opportunities Grant, a $20 million special program to 1-23 promote new Rotary projects that will benefit children from birth 1-24 to age 16; and 2-1 WHEREAS, Each of the 481 Rotary clubs in Texas has the 2-2 opportunity to apply for grants of up to $25,000 to support such 2-3 club projects for children as literacy education, basic food and 2-4 clothing needs, primary health care and immunizations, prevention 2-5 of child abuse and exploitation of child labor, restorative surgery 2-6 for birth defects, child care centers for working parents, 2-7 rehabilitation for crippling injuries, care for orphans and street 2-8 youths, and drug abuse prevention; and 2-9 WHEREAS, This year's Rotary International theme is "Follow 2-10 Your Rotary Dream," and striving to make this slogan a reality 2-11 would not be possible without the support the Rotary Foundation 2-12 receives from generous contributors and Rotarians worldwide; and 2-13 WHEREAS, The Rotary districts of Texas are being represented 2-14 at the Capitol by the 10 Rotary district governors of Texas, 2-15 including Bob Wootten of El Paso, John Heetland of Amarillo, Sid 2-16 Pruitt of Alvarado, Bill Frew of Dallas, Bob Young of Hawkins, Bill 2-17 Dean of Seguin, Billy Archibald of Mexia, Bob Franklin of Lake 2-18 Jackson, Dan Davis of Huntsville, and Bill Janecek of Rockport; and 2-19 WHEREAS, The dedicated efforts of all the members of Rotary 2-20 Texas and Rotary International to span the international spectrum 2-21 in the attempt to achieve global health and peace are truly 2-22 commendable and indeed worthy of special recognition at this time; 2-23 now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-25 Legislature hereby recognize February 10, 1999, as Rotary 2-26 International Day at the Capitol and welcome the members of the 2-27 visiting delegation to Austin; and, be it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-2 prepared for Rotary International as an expression of high regard 3-3 by the Texas House of Representatives.