ARNIE DOWDY - Rotary Foundation Chair

Posted by Richard L. Roberts

Arnie Dowdy, Past District Governor, Past President of several Rotary Clubs and currently the chair of the District Rotary Foundation spoke to us about the many services and accomplishments of Rotary International and the separate entity, Rotary Foundation. He reminded us about the dour look of Paul Harris, founder of Rotary that is seen on Paul Harris documents, etc. He said that Paul was quite a character, good sense of humor and one example during his youth he would ride on a train's cow catcher in the front of the engine ten miles one way and then turn around and do the same thing coming back. He followed the suggestion of one of his contemporaries and decided to take the first five years after college and live a full life. During this time he roamed around the US. He was a cowboy, actor, picked fruit, salesman, and had many wonderful experiences. Paul said, "I intend to make a life, not a living."

He formed a men's club of men that he felt he could trust in business and had his same values and called it Rotary. Later, the term "service" was introduced and even later, 1917-18, Arch Clumpf determined that Rotary needed an emergency fund to assist with WWI needs and gave $26.50 that was the beginning of the Rotary Foundation. By 1928 there was $50,000 in the fund and that same year they gave $500 for crippled children; thus, the beginning of The March of Dimes annual charity.

In 1945, after WWII, Rotary initiated their ambassador scholarship program, sending young people to other countries to proclaim the benefits of Rotary and the USA. In 1985 the Polio Plus program was initiated to eradicate polio throughout the world. Over $633 million has been donated out of Rotarian pockets. There are still pockets of polio in Pakistan, 16 cases last year; Nigeria; India, 326 cases last year; and, Afghanistan, 12 cases last year, over a 50% reduction from the year before. The experts know exactly where polio pockets of infection are located, have it surrounded, and have developed vaccine for two of the specific three types of polio. Type 2 has been completely eradicated worldwide.

District 5240 is the most generous in the entire world, club members donated $156/member two years ago and $176/member last year. $1.28 million was given to Rotary Foundation in 2006-07 representing one dollar per each member throughout the world. An amazing amount! Arnie is proud of Rotary, proud of Rotarians and is a good representative of all that Rotary International, the Rotary Foundation, District 5240 and individual clubs accomplish.