Laoag City—The world’s first civic and service organization, Rotary
International is expanding to Laoag City once again, following the
reorganization of Rotarians in the locality to form a new Rotary club that now
includes female members.
Forty
charter members of the Rotary Club of Laoag Sunshine are set to formally
receive their club Charter No. 85913 from R.I. District 3790 Gov. Linda Winter
in simple ceremonies June 28, 2014 at the Pacific Function Hall. The Laoag
Sunshine Rotary club joins RI’s global association of 33,000 Rotary clubs in
more than 200 countries and geographical areas. The club is the latest addition
to over 90 Rotary clubs under R.I. District 3790 covering 10 provinces of
Central and Northwestern Luzon—from the Ilocos provinces, Abra, La Union,
Baguio-Benguet, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Pampanga, Zambales and Bataan.
While
other provinces have four to 15 Rotary clubs in their geographical areas, RC
Laoag Sunshine is the lone Rotary club that exists in Ilocos Norte. This new club is an apparent successor of the
51-year charter of the Rotary Club of Laoag which was surrendered to R.I. in
2012 to pave the way for a new name—Rotary Club of Laoag Sunshine—and a new
image that now has the membership of female professionals and businesswomen in
Laoag City and Ilocos Norte.
For
the club’s first year, RC Laoag Sunshine plans to initiate projects on
environmental, health and educational concerns. The club joins Rotary’s global
network of volunteers in enhancing their communities and promoting
international goodwill through club projects, scholarships, cultural exchanges
and grants for development and humanitarian projects.
Rotary
was founded over 100 years ago in Chicago, with its influence now felt around
the globe. Rotary’s achievements provide an inspiring record of men and women
of all races, religions, nationalities and creeds who have made significant
contributions to create a more peaceful world.
The
Rotary Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the association, awards millions of
dollars each year to worthy projects carried out by clubs and districts working
locally and in international partnerships. Since 1985, eradicating polio
worldwide has been Rotary's top philanthropic goal. Rotary’s US$200 Million
Challenge is The Rotary Foundation’s response to $355 million in challenge
grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for polio eradication
efforts. These grants represent a tremendous validation of the approach and
success of Rotary’s PolioPlus program
Locally,
the Rotary Foundation funded the clean water projects of the old Laoag Rotary
club across Ilocos Norte through matching grants from 2006 to 2011. Since 1998,
Oregon-based international partners of Laoag Rotarians donated at least five
40-foot container loads of educational materials and hospital equipment in the
province, with the Ilocos Norte provincial government covering the import
taxes. The last shipment was delivered during the first term of Ilocos Norte Gov.
Ma. Imelda “Imee” R. Marcos in 2011.
RC
Laoag Sunshine intends to pursue projects left behind by the resigned RC Laoag
by forging new ties with other Rotary clubs across the globe.
Founded
in 1905 in Chicago, Rotary is an organization of business, professional, and
community men and women united worldwide to provide humanitarian service and help
build goodwill and peace in the world.
Rotary
Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures and creeds. For
more information about Rotary, visit www.rotary.org.
For
information on joining the new club or finding ways to work with Rotary in your
community, contact Charter Club President Cesar Carullo (09178106598) or
Charter Club Secretary Dennis Domingo (09999982628). The Rotary Club of Laoag
Sunshine meets every Thursday, 7:00 PM to 9:30 PM at Bolusan Restaurant, Laoag
City.
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