Elmhurst Rotary fundraiser supports disaster relief
When an earthquake crumbled Port-au-Prince and devastated Haiti, it wasn't long before ShelterBox volunteers arrived with tents and more to help the local people meet their most basic needs for water, food and shelter.
And when another major quake hit Japan and touched off a tsunami that washed away normal life for miles along the northeastern coast, Elmhurst Rotarian Mark Dyer, a ShelterBox volunteer, was on the phone right away to coordinate the shipping of supplies. Dyer then went to Japan to help distribute tents and equipment.
Dyer demonstrates a commitment to Rotary's “service above self” creed, and his dedication to ShelterBox keeps the organization's disaster relief efforts at the fore among Elmhurst Rotarians.
Inspired by Dyer, the Rotary Club of Elmhurst is dedicating a portion of the proceeds from its upcoming fundraiser to support ShelterBox.
“Through the service of our individual members and the support our club provides for international projects, Elmhurst Rotary changes lives throughout the world and encourages the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace,” said Jennifer Rabideau, the club's president-elect and fundraising chair.
The We Are the World dinner dance and auction on Saturday, April 30, also will celebrate the foreign exchange students sponsored by the Elmhurst Rotary and fund such sponsorships as well as scholarships for college-bound and vocational students.
Rabideau tells us more about Elmhurst Rotary's service, both locally and internationally.
Q. What is your organization's mission?
A. Elmhurst Rotary is composed of men and women who are committed to “service above self.”
Rotary International is a worldwide organization of business, professional and community leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
Rotary Club members the world over are volunteers who work locally, regionally and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.
Q. How do you work toward accomplishing all that?
A. Through our annual fundraising efforts, we provide tuition support to college-bound and vocationally oriented students, and we support community organizations and international humanitarian service projects.
Elmhurst Rotary sponsors a Thanksgiving dinner each year in which Rotarians, their families and local volunteers serve more than 600 area residents at this annual event.
Our club supports the efforts of Elmhurst Rotarian and ShelterBox Response Team member Mark Dyer to provide emergency shelter to families in disaster-struck areas including Haiti, Colombia and, most recently, Japan.
Q. Whom do you serve?
A. Locally, Elmhurst Rotary provides needed funding for community service projects and humanitarian efforts in Elmhurst and the surrounding area. Additionally, Elmhurst Rotary supports national and international humanitarian service projects.
Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?
A. As noted on the Rotary International website, the world's first service club organization, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed in February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. Today, Rotary International is headquartered in Evanston and serves 33,000 clubs worldwide, representing 1.2 million members.
The Rotary Club of Elmhurst was chartered in 1955 and today is an organization of 67 men and women who share a dedication to Service Above Self.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. Besides our club's involvement with ShelterBox, Elmhurst Rotary has been recognized for its participation in a number of programs and for the projects it has undertaken. For instance, Elmhurst Rotary regularly sponsors inbound and outbound foreign exchange students. This year, the club is sponsoring two students, from Germany and from Belgium. In May, Elmhurst Rotary will host its second Group Study Exchange team — this year from Tokyo.
Recently, Elmhurst Rotary was recognized by Rotary International for its annual Thanksgiving dinner, which provides a holiday meal to more than 600 area residents each year.
Working with partner agencies and local clubs, including the Elmhurst club, Rotary International has led the charge for the eradication of polio. Since the PolioPlus program's inception in 1985, more than 2 billion children have received the oral polio vaccine.
Q. What challenges does the organization currently face?
A. One of the more interesting challenges we face is reaching new generations of service-oriented individuals and introducing them to Rotary.
Recently, York High School students successfully petitioned the administration to approve the formation of a new Interact Club at the school. Interact is Rotary International's service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but each Interact club is self-governing and self-supporting.
Q. What do you wish the community at large knew about the organization?
A. Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Want to change the world? Rotary's doing it. Become a Rotarian!
Rotary members and honorary members have included aviation pioneer Orville Wright, British prime ministers Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, and Apollo astronaut Buzz Aldrin.
Q. How can readers get involved?A. Contact Jenny Rabideau at (630) 833-8398 or jenny.rabideau@gmail.com, or find us online at www.ElmhurstRotary.org or on Facebook, search for Elmhurst Rotary.
If you go
What: We Are the World, a dinner dance and auction
Why: To raise money to support Elmhurst Rotary's international service efforts
When: 6 p.m. Saturday, April 30
Where: Butterfield Country Club, 2800 Midwest Road, Oak Brook
Details: Dinner begins at 7:30 p.m.; live auction features Spotlight Auction to benefit ShelterBox and Northern Illinois Food Bank
Cost: $100 per person, $900 for a table for 10
Info: (630) 833-8398 or jenny.rabideau@gmail.com