The Rotary Club of Oak Park - River Forest supports a wide variety of special community projects ranging from child care, youth services, adult counseling programs to cultural projects.

Our club has supported international projects to improve healthcare and nutrition in developing countries throughout the world.

If you have a desire to learn, if you want to help others, if you want to make new friends and establish new business and professional relationships - Rotary is for you.

2007 - 2008 President Robert W. Giles

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

October 1, 2007

Dear Fellow Rotarians:

Did you ever have someone ask, “What is Rotary?” In 1976 the Rotary International Board of Directors created a concise definition of the fundamental aspects of Rotary. “Rotary is an organization of business and professional persons united worldwide
who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world.” After you say that, invite the person to lunch.

You could tell the person that the principal Rotary Motto, established by the 1989 Council on Legislation, is “Service Above Self.” The Rotary Motto contains the philosophy of unselfish, volunteer service.

If you really want to go into detail, you could tell the person about the four Avenues of Service: Club Service, Community Service, International Service and Vocational Service. But, if a person asks, “What is Rotary?” The most important thing is to invite the person to lunch. In time, the person will learn what Rotary is.

Rotary membership throughout the world is increasing, in the United States and Canada, it has decreased slightly. I joined Rotary in 1984 because someone asked me to lunch. Be sure to share Rotary with your friends.

District Governor Art Davis wrote in his blog on the District web site after his visit to the Rotary Club of Oak Park – River Forest: “This Club has more projects than anyone can imagine, what a great Club.” We are a great club and we have more projects than anyone can imagine because we include service projects in our club dues and fundraisers. We are able to raise money so that the Community Service Committee can fund community projects, the International Service Committee can fund international projects and the Vocational Committee can fund scholarships. We serve through our committee structure. Thank you for volunteering to serve on committees, for your attendance at committee meetings, and for your “Service Above Self.” The projects of the Oak Park – River Forest Club are a testimony to the 2007-2008 Rotary International Theme: “Rotary Shares.”

Sincerely,

Robert W. Giles
President, 2007-2008

The Four-Way Test

First: Is it the truth?

Second: Is it fair to all concerned?

Third: Will it build good will and better friendship?

Fourth: Will it be beneficial to all concerned?