News-Record.com

The Rotary International service club turns 100 years old on Wednesday. It's a big day for the region's Rotarians as they will gather at the Koury Convention Center for a luncheon marking the centennial.

First -- a true confession: I am a member of a local Rotary Club, so I'm a tad partisan. Unfortunately, work duties will keep me from attending the lunch, so I thought I'd do my part by giving you the quick scoop on what's going on.

About 900 Rotarians from Mocksville to Burlington and Pinehurst to Virginia will be a part of the luncheon.

The group's mission is to serve the community, pure and simple. We enjoy making friends through the club, but we're always trying to focus our fund-raising and our volunteer time on what we can do for people in our district.

Recently, for example, the eight Rotary clubs in Greensboro came together to build a $135K playground inside the new downtown baseball
stadium.

Worldwide, Rotary has led fund-raising and volunteer efforts to nearly eradicate polio from the earth. It also runs the largest private educational scholarship program in the world. Another benefit: People from the world's nations get to know each other better.

Each club has multiple, often dozens, of projects that improve lives in our community and in countries around the world, including Moldova, Panama, Nigeria, and many others.

In a blast from the past, Rotary founder Paul Harris will speak at the luncheon. (Actually, a man who looks just like Mr. Harris will do his best impersonation.)

It'll be a great event for local members and it provides a good occasion for me to spotlight the club.

OK, commercial's over. Thanks for reading.

(And thanks to my friend Patrick Eakes, a friend of mine and fellow Rotarian, for much of this information.)