Local Rotary forming Japanese club in Northwest suburbs

The Mount Prospect-Prospect Heights Rotary will celebrate Rotary International’s 105th anniversary by forming a new Japanese Rotary Club in the Northwest suburbs.

Rotary, a global network of community volunteers, is one of the largest and most influential international humanitarian service organizations worldwide. Founded in Chicago on Feb. 23, 1905, more than 1.2 million members today belong to 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas.

It is especially appropriate that a Japanese club be formed in an area where many Japanese Americans are living. It is also significant that the new Rotary International president to be installed for 2012-2013 is Sakuji Tanaka from Yashio, Saitama, Japan.

Anyone interested in finding out more about this new club is encouraged to attend a meeting of the Mount Prospect — Prospect Heights Rotary Club at the Holiday Inn at 200 E. Rand Road in Mount Prospect. The club meets for lunch on Mondays. Call (224) 659-9030 to make a reservation.

Rotary members strive to build goodwill and peace, and provide humanitarian service in their communities and throughout the world. The Mount Prospect — Prospect Heights Rotary Club joins Rotary clubs around the world to recognize the anniversary day, also known as Rotary’s “World Understanding and Peace Day.”

Rotary’s top philanthropic goal is to eradicate polio worldwide. To date, Rotary has contributed nearly $850 million and countless volunteer hours to the protection of more than 2 billion children in 122 countries.

Rotary is currently working to raise an additional $200 million toward a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The money is providing operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents.