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SAN Rotary is Proud to support: Murray’s Hardware |
About UsSanta Ana North Rotary is one of 31,000 Rotary clubs in 164 countries around the world with more than one million members that has nearly wiped Polio from the face of the earth and is involved in thousands of local projects in their communities and around the world. Rotary was founded by a lonely lawyer, Paul Harris, who 100 years ago moved to Chicago, and was looking for some lunch partners. He gathered several colleagues together, rotating the meeting sites each week. In their first effort at providing a service to others, built a public outhouse. Who would have thought that this inauspicous beginning would blossom into the first service club organized in the U.S, which has grown into so many clubs here and around the world? What you see when you visit Santa Ana North Rotary is not what you get. At first glance it appears that there are just a group of friendly folks eating lunch together and teasing one another, listening to a guest speaker. The President pounds a bell with his gavel , issues expensive fines to the members for ridiculous reasons , makes announcements and announces the winners of a weekly raffle. However, if you sit beside these professionals, business owners and corporate executives, you discover buried treasures and talents of people,who although they do not appear to have much in common, are the glue in the fabric of our community, working together to make our community, this nation and the world a better place. Locally, they work on behalf of children’s needs, health needs, provide educational support and support to our military members and their families and for those whose loved ones have sacrificed their lives for our country. Santa Ana North Rotary brings a Santa Claus and a Clown to disadvantaged youngsters at schools that are only a few miles from local malls, but who would never get there and personally meet a Santa Claus or a clown. We help provide funds for food and clothing for needy families, help victims of Hurricane Katrina with funds and direct assistance from several members who spent time at the disaster site. We took needy kids who have never seen the ocean aboard a sailing ship, manned Salvation Army Kettles during Christmas, help support vocal musical school programs, assisted in YMCA after- school programs, made it possible for 3 Jr. high school students to attend a leadership camp, sponsored an Interact Program for high school students who learn to in turn reach out to the community, host an annual singing contest for 5 high schools, and read to elementary school children. Internationally, we donate medical supplies to Flying Doctors, and in concert with other clubs funds for emergency medical equipment for firefighters in Chile, send needed emergency and medical equipment to our sister city in Caborca, Mexico and make annual trips to assist in Polio immunizations there. And we have a great time doing it. If you would like to make a difference here and around the world, come join us. For more information go to Contact Us or click on Catherine Peppard |