Installation Speach 2010

Installation Speech

Tuesday June 29, 2010

 

I want to welcome my fellow Rotarians, their families, honored guests and my wife to the 2010 Installation Banquet of Officers of the North Port Arthur Rotary Club.

 

God has provided a direction for all to follow in that he has said," I came  to serve, not to be served ."

 

Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally.  

Last week at the International Rotary Convention in Montreal, Canada, eradication  of polio and clean water in Africa took center stage.

 

"Service above self"

 

Rotary has contributed more than $900 million and countless volunteer hours to immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries. 

 

"Service above self"

 

Rotary has partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to receive $200 million for global polio eradication.  

In Nigeria the case numbers have plummeted by 99% from 312 cases last year to 3 this year.

 

"Service above self"

 

One billion people lack access to safe water and 2.5 billion to adequate sanitation.  Rotary is working hard  in this effort.

 

Service above Self.

 

 

Service Above Self   "giving of yourself for the good

of others."

 

We do this as a Club .

 

Marcus Junemann was the District 5910 Governor in about 1999. He belongs to the Texas City Rotary Club.  He has come every year since then to oversee our Installation.  Also, Nancy and Marcus come every year to Port Arthur to help in our Fish Fry.

 

  Service above self.

 

I had not thought about arranging the details for  "Ring the Bell" for the Salvation Army each December at Wal-Mart.   Gary Stretcher approached me to say that he would handle "Ringing the bell" - 

 

 Service above self

 

Each year we use the  proceed from the fish fry to give four student scholarships to attend  Lamar University or one of the Lamar's for the year. All our members assist in this effort.

 

  Service above self.

 

We have 19 active members who have served  as the President of this Club.  

 

Service above Self.

 

Each week we let the Speaker know,  "In honor of their presentation, our club will make a donation to the Port Arthur Public School Foundation.  Funds are used to support  worthwhile projects by teachers in the district. The projects are not funded by PAISD."

 

Service above self.

 

Dr. Dub George serves behind the scenes as  Bulletin/Editor and Webmaster.   Every week we receive The Highgear from the Club with pertinent information.   

 

Service above Self.

 

I look forward to Serving with you this year.

I have received a lot of comments about  Janice's presentation of the Tooty Ta  or the Wheatly Scuffle.  Since at least half of you have not seen it done, Please join in and have some fun.......

 

Mary Jean George, who serves as a Trustee and  Secretary for the PAISD Board of Trustees,  should find it interesting ......

 

Michael Trahan - President - North Port Arthur Rotary Club - 2010-2011