VERO BEACH — Six Indian River County Rotary Clubs joined together recently to “roll out” a new awareness campaign encouraging people throughout the community to “THINK GLOBALLY and ACT LOCALLY”. “Becoming a member of Rotary means “Service Above Self” and being involved in helping those in need, to work to eradicate polio, encourage literacy, provide clean water and numerous other local and global charitable programs and humanitarian efforts”, stated Rotary Assistant District 6930 Governor Arthur Hodge.
“Through the generosity of Susan Haggard with the Senior Resource Association’s GoLine bus program, a Rotary International PR Grant plus contributions from all six Indian River County Rotary clubs, an ad was placed on a GoLine bus that will transverse the county for the next six months sharing the Rotary vision and encouraging involvement,” said Maureen Labadie, president of the Rotary Vero Beach Oceanside Club.
“Our bus ad includes an internet link to our local clubs (www.rotary6930.org/District6930Map) in the hope that people will check out what our local clubs are doing,” said Mary Beth Mazarella, Rotary District 6930 International Service Chair and member of the Rotary Club of Treasure Coast Vero Beach.
Local and international charitable groups and projects that have been positively affected by Indian River County Rotarian donations and/or volunteer hours have included: Dictionaries and Thesauri for IR County Elementary Schools, GYAC Back to School Bash, Dollars for Scholars, The American Cancer Society Relay for Life at the Beaches, Literacy Services of Indian River County, Haiti Disaster Relief Efforts, Biosand Filters to the Dominican Republic, Youth Guidance Fishing Trip, Citrus Elementary Reading Program, Backpack Buddies Program/Head Start, Kidz Closet Charities, and numerous others.
The GoLine bus with the Rotary THINK GLOBALLY ACT LOCALLY ad will be parked on display Saturday, October 2 from 5 to 7 pm at the City of Vero Beach Riverhouse during the second annual, “by invitation only”, six club Rotary OktoberFest fundraiser for PolioPlus. Last year’s OktoberFest event was attended by more than 180 Rotarians and their families and helped raise more than $2,300 in funds for Polio Eradication.
“We are so close to ending this dreaded disease worldwide that we can’t stop now,” declared Leo Phillips, Rotary Past District 6930 Governor. Learn how you can be part of the final solution and more about Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign by visiting http://www.rotary.org/en/EndPolio/Pages/ridefault.aspx.
All Rotary Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. As signified by the motto “Service Above Self”, Rotary’s main objective is service – in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotary clubs are free to develop autonomous service programs locally, nationally and globally, plus, all Rotarians are united in a worldwide campaign to eradicate polio.
Of the more than 33,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the globe, the six Rotary clubs located in Indian River County that meet weekly are:
Treasure Coast Vero Beach Rotary Club: Tuesdays, 12:15 pm at C.J. Cannons Restaurant
Vero Beach Oceanside Club: Tuesdays, 5:30 pm at Indian River Shores Town Hall Community Center
Vero Beach Sunrise Club: Wednesdays, 7:00 am at Lobster Shanty Restaurant
Orchid Island Rotary Club: Wednesdays, 12:00 pm at Community Church
Sebastian Rotary Club: Thursdays, 12:00 pm at River Grille Sebastian
Vero Beach Rotary Club: Thursdays, 12:00 pm at Quail Valley River Club
Information: Visit www.rotary6930.org/District6930Map or www.rotary.org.