Yankee Trails

02 M A R C H 2 0 1 8 The Villages ® Community yankeetrails.com | 352.633.4643 R oy Smith, Sr., didn't hesitate for a moment when asked about the Rotary Club at the Villages, "Our motto is 'Service Above Self." For over twenty years, the Rotary Club has been raising money for the betterment of the community, and giving it all back to the community. Roy is the President of the "Thurs- day" Rotary Club which meets every week at seven in the morning. This rotary club, the largest in the Vil- lages, is able to effect great change with its 120 members. At the beginning of every meeting, the group recites what they believe to be the true testament to their work. They ask: Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better friendship? And, will it benefit all concerned? This is how they're able to boast that over 750 thousand dollars has been raised over the years to fund children's scholarships, the local food banks, and trips to Peru to assist in the Cleft Palate Program to help children with life-changing surgeries. Every year, select members of the Club make the trip to Peru. The air- fare is funded by the volunteers themselves, so that 100% of the allocated funds go to the children and the transformative surgeries they need. They've raised over $84,000 for this initiative. The Rotary Club raises money by holding community events that draw a significant crowd, such as the very popular, Annual Chili Cook-off & Home and Garden Show, which is held every February. With 50 contestants, this event alone typically raises over 120 thousand dollars. The winner is awarded huge bragging rights…and maybe a little heart burn. One of the other large-scale events the Rotary puts on is their Taste of Class Gala usually held in the fall. Gourmet restaurants from around the region are invited to showcase their specialty dishes, which draws about 450-500 guests. The Rotary is also about to orga- nize its first annual golf tournament this summer. Every Rotary group is part of a larger initiative to ultimately erad- icate polio across the globe; and the Rotary Club in the Villages takes this very seriously. Rotary, with the help of its partners, has reduced the number of polio cases by 99.9%* worldwide since 1979 when they had their first project to vaccinate children in the Philip- pines. As a whole, Rotarians have helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children against the polio- virus in 122 countries.* It's the "giving spirit of the group," Roy said, that's his favorite part of being a Rotary member. He loves being around "such a great group of people who make a difference." Contact Mike Rogers at mrogers@yankeetrails.com C L U B O F T H E M O N T H The Rotary Club Want to be Club of the Month? For more information about The Rotary Club, visit rotaryclubofthevillages.homestead.com *Figures according to http://my.rotary.org/en/take-action/end-polio

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