79R6840 JNC-D

By:  Seaman                                                       H.R. No. 456



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The year 2005 marks the 100th anniversary of Rotary 
International, and in recognition of this important milestone, 
February 23, 2005, is being celebrated as Rotary International Day 
at the State Capitol; and
	WHEREAS, On February 23, 1905, four young businessmen, led by 
attorney Paul Harris, joined together in Chicago in an effort to 
provide professionals with opportunities for service projects and 
fellowship; and
	WHEREAS, A century later, the organization has grown to 
include more than 1,200,000 Rotarians in 166 countries, represented 
by nearly 32,000 clubs and over 500 districts; and
	WHEREAS, This nonpolitical, nonpartisan, and nonreligious 
organization is dedicated to increasing world peace and 
understanding, improving health and alleviating hunger worldwide, 
and developing goodwill among people of all nations; and
	WHEREAS, One of the group's many notable humanitarian 
projects is the Polio Plus program, which is committed to 
eradicating this deadly virus; since the plan's inception in 1985, 
a time when nearly half a million children were diagnosed with polio 
annually, Rotarians have led a highly successful and coordinated 
effort to help completely wipe out the disease; with contributions 
of more than $600 million and innumerable hours of volunteer 
service and the participation of the World Health Organization and 
UNICEF, Polio Plus has helped to immunize more than two billion 
children, and today over 200 countries, territories, and regions 
around the world are polio free; and
	WHEREAS, In an effort to promote world understanding and 
peace, the association has developed a host of worthy programs such 
as Health, Hunger, and Humanities, ambassadorial scholarships, 
group study exchanges, and Rotary Peace Scholars; and
	WHEREAS, Rotary International was first established in the 
Lone Star State on April 10, 1911, in Dallas; today, more than 
25,000 Rotary members in nearly 500 clubs across the state provide 
support for community, state, and international projects designed 
to "do good in the world"; and
	WHEREAS, Current Texas Rotary district governors include 
Thomas Sheriff, Gilbert Brown, Benjamin Agnor, John Peterson, Gene 
Davenport, D'Lisa Simmons, Emken Linton, George Dawson, Charles 
Aiken, and Charles Cotton; and
	WHEREAS, The dedicated contributions of all the members of 
Rotary in Texas and Rotary International are truly commendable, and 
it is a pleasure to join with them in celebration of the 
organization's centennial; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize February 23, 2005, as Rotary 
International Day at the State Capitol and welcome those Rotarians 
visiting here today; and, be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Rotary in Texas as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.