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By:  Hunter                                                       H.R. No. 452



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Texas House of Representatives is proud to honor 
Rotary International, the world's first service club, on the 100th 
anniversary of its founding; and
	WHEREAS, Rotary began on February 23, 1905, when Paul P. 
Harris invited three friends to a meeting in downtown Chicago in an 
effort to enjoy camaraderie and to enlarge their circle of business 
and professional acquaintances; and
	WHEREAS, Rotary's popularity soon spread throughout the 
United States and came to Texas in 1912, when the Rotary Club of 
Dallas was chartered in April of that year and was soon followed by 
clubs in San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Beaumont, Galveston, Waco 
and Fort Worth; and
	WHEREAS, With its motto, "Service Above Self," Rotary has 
expanded its mission beyond serving the professional and social 
interest of its club members to contributing their talents to help 
communities in need; and
	WHEREAS, During and after World War II, Rotary became 
increasingly involved in promoting international understanding and 
has, for the last 60 years, actively participated in United Nations 
conferences, helped in creating the United Nations Educational, 
Scientific and Cultural Organizations and, through the efforts of 
The Rotary Foundation, an endowment fund set up "for doing good in 
the world," more than $80 million annually supports a wide range of 
humanitarian grants and educational programs that bring hope and 
promote international understanding throughout the world; and
	WHEREAS, In 1985 Rotary made a historic commitment to 
immunize all of the world's children against polio and, by working 
with nongovernmental organizations and national governments 
through its PolioPlus program, Rotary International volunteers 
have immunized more than one billion children world wide; and
	WHEREAS, Rotary International has, once again, expanded its 
service effort to address the pressing issues of the 21st century: 
environmental degradation, illiteracy, world hunger and at-risk 
children; and
	WHEREAS, Rotary clubs of Texas make up ten districts each led 
by a district governor including Rick Akins of District 5520; 
Charles Cotten of District 5730; Tom Sheriff of District 5790; 
Gilbert Brown of District 5810; Benjamin Agnor of District 5830; 
John Peterson of District 5840; Gene Davenport of District 5870; 
D'Lisa Simmons of District 5890; Emken Linton of District 5910; and 
George Dawson of District 5930; and
	WHEREAS, The Capitol of Texas Rotary Club, which meets weekly 
at the Capitol and is the only Rotary club in the world meeting in a 
State Capitol, continues to unite leaders and conduct service for 
central Austin under the current club president, Benjamin Ford; 
now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognizes Rotary International's 100th 
anniversary and extends congratulations to the more than 1.2 
million Rotarians in 166 countries; and be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for each of the ten Rotary District Governors in Texas as 
an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives.