Bellaire Rotary and International

Rotary is an international service organization that is so many things to so many different people.  Rotary brings together friends, family and community leaders to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world.  Our voice is more action-oriented focusing on the why rather than the how: Join for our community. Stay for the world. 

There are 1.2 million Rotarians in 34,000 clubs doing good all over the world. This network of clubs makes up Rotary International.  In Bellaire, MI the club is small in numbers, but mighty in the work they do to improving the lives of the youth for 66 years. 

In the late 1990’s Bellaire Rotary purchased property and built a road down to it for the AYSO and others to use for soccer.  This was a huge undertaking successfully completed and the Rotary Soccer Park has been widely used for many years.  Bellaire Rotary deeded the park over to the Village of Bellaire – there is a Soccer Camp going on this week utilizing the fields.

Bellaire Rotary recognizes a Student of the Month at both Bellaire High School and Central Lake High School each year, September thru May.  The student and his/her parents are treated to lunch with the Rotary Club where the student is presented with a certificate commending the student for achievements and recognizing them for their potential for leadership and further success in worthy endeavors along with a check for $100.00 to help with college expenses.

 

Bellaire Rotary invites each of those schools to nominate 2 students to attend the Rotary Life Leadership Conference held just after school adjourns in the spring.  Cost of the 3 day conference usually held at the Kettenun Center in Tustin, MI is paid by the local Rotary club.

 

Bellaire Rotary also was able to collect grants to fund the Bellaire Little League Fields, which are part of the Bellaire Village park system.

 

A badge of pride was when we were able to donate $4000.00 to the Bellaire Youth Center in 2012 and we were able to get another matching grant to fund purchase of guitars for the Youth Center.  Previously Bellaire Rotary held a Bowl-A-Thon to help raise funds for the Youth Center for 2 years also.

 

Bellaire Rotary has been able to receive a matching grant for several years so that we can fund the Grass River Natural Area Bellaire Rotary Intern each summer.  This internship is offered to a student who plans to continue their education in ecology and the student helps lead classes at the Grass River Natural Area for the summer.  Also found at Grass River is a Bio-Sand Filter like those many Rotary Clubs place in third world countries where there is little availability of clean water.  A group of Rotarians travel, many times to places like the Dominican Republic to install these filters and teach the locals how to use them and about sanitation.   It must not be allowed to dry out and it kills 99% of bacteria and 98% of parasites.  It is very effective against cholera.

 

We join other clubs around the world to “Create Peacekeepers – One Student at a Time”  the theme of the Rotary Youth Exchange program encompassing 60 countries where a student can spend a school year in a foreign school.

 

Rotary world-wide tries to live by our 4 Way Test:

Of the things we think, say or do:  First) Is it the TRUTH? Second)  Is it FAIR to all concerned?  Third)  Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?  And Fourth)  Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?