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.