Message from the President

Rotary International celebrates 100 years of fellowship and service this year, and looks forward to a new millennium of service all over the world. From Rotary's early beginnings in Chicago in 1905, none of the four men gathered at that first meeting could have predicted that these meeting would continue to occur regularly and grow to some 31,000 clubs. Now, 100 years later Rotary continues to flourish, and for that reason I ask all Rotarians to join me and "Celebrate Rotary" this centennial year.

On an international level we will celebrate the enormous strides Rotary has made in eradicating polio worldwide. In addition, Rotary has hundreds of local projects ongoing throughout the world to provide money and expertise in establishing water wells and other infrastructure to undeveloped areas. Rotary has grown to an organization with 1.2 million members in 166 countries serving their fellow man with a dedication that exemplifies our motto of "Service Above Self".

On a local level here in Union City and Obion County our club celebrates 68 years of existence with the launching of a new program that will benefit low-income children by providing scholarships for early childhood education for Union City residents 6 weeks of age to 5 years. Funded by Rotarian Robert Kirkland's foundation this ground breaking education program will be guided by a board of directors composed of Union City Rotary Club members. Our club will also continue the Rotary Scholarship Program which began in 1982 with the award of a single scholarship in memory of charter member Gus White in the amount of $1000 and growing to over $300,000 in scholarships being awarded in 2004. The scholarship program has provided over $2,000,000 to college students from Union City and Obion County since it's inception in 1982, and has an endowment of over $4,600,000. Another great program sponsored by our club has been the Obion County Reading Railroad which is the local affiliate of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library which provides free books to all children birth to 5 years old who are residents of Obion County. Last, but certainly not least, is our clubs sponsorship of Rotary Relays. This track and field event is held each spring at Union City High School with participants from high schools all over West Tennessee coming to compete. Rotary volunteers organize, oversee and judge this premier track and field competition.

We have a rich heritage in the Union City Rotary Club, and I challenge each Rotarian to make the most of the coming year by rededicating ourselves to serve our clubs, our communities, our vocations and our families.

Sincerely,
Roger Williams
President