Earle Brown (front), Richard Balser, and several hundred Rotarians toast their centennial celebration

Rotary began February 23, 1905 when a Chicago business man named Paul Harris partnered with three colleagues to form a professional club that had all the same values, friendly spirit, and community service they were accustomed to growing up in America’s small towns. One hundred years later that club of four called the Rotary Club of Chicago has grown to over 1.2 million men and women comprising more than 31,000 Rotary clubs in 166 countries united under the banner Service Above Self .

Rotarians throughout the Midlands from 11 different clubs met at the Columbia Convention Center Wednesday, February 23, 2005 for their own observance of the Centennial. Highlights of the event included an international toast, a guest appearance from SC First Lady Jenny Sandford, Forst Jackson Color Guard and Brass Quintest, and Rex Wilson’s very amusing health and happiness presentation.

All clubs marked the 100th year observance with centennial projects. Midlands club projects were as follows:

• Columbia – “I Give Regularly”, a six month campaign to reduce the blood supply deficit in the Midlands.

• Cayce–West Columbia and West Metro – Donated trees to municipalities in the area

• Columbia Capital, Spring Valley, and Five Points – Built a Habitat for Humanity House

• Columbia East – Commissioned a mural at Annie Burnside Elementary School

• Forest Acres and Blythewood – Donated a large freezer to Harvest Hope Food Bank

• Lake Murray/Irmo – Supported the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra

On February 15, Congressman Joe Wilson honored Rotarians on the floor of the US House of Representatives stating, “Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize the 100th anniversary of Rotary International, the world’s first service organization...As a past Rotary Club president, I’ve seen first hand the tremendous goodwill the club is spreading throughout the world. I am grateful my chief of staff, Eric Dell, is a charter member of the new Capitol Hill Rotary Club where he is the current president. Congratulations on fulfilling The Four–Way Test and the motto of Service Above Self .”

Rotary members will now begin the next 100 years by focusing their efforts on the erdication of polio worldwide.