Rotary World Peace and Understanding Day, February 23, 2019

Rotary Service Day in the City of Hickory

On 23 February 1905, the very first Rotary meeting was organized by Paul Harris, Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, and Hiram Shorey gathered at Loehr’s office in Room 711 of the Unity Building in downtown Chicago. Paul Harris, an attorney, wanted to create a professional group with the same friendly spirit he felt in the small towns of his youth. They decided to call the new club “Rotary” after the practice of rotating meeting locations. The name Rotary International was adopted in 1922.

The February 23 anniversary is now known as “Rotary World Peace and Understanding Day.”

In keeping with Rotary’s 2019 theme, “Be the Inspiration” and the Rotary Foundation’s motto of “Doing Good in the World”, Rotary District 7670 Governor Isaac B. Owolabi has decreed that February 23 is one of his signature projects for focusing on service and giving back to one’s community, an important tenet of Rotary locally, nationally, and internationally. District 7670 currently consists of 48 Rotary Clubs in Western North Carolina.

On February 23, 2019 the Rotary Club of Hickory will join district and worldwide recognitions by participating in a local service project for the benefit of Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry and their mission to provide Hope, Help and Healing to those in most need through Service, Advocacy & Community Support. The Rotary Club of Hickory is blessed to have the leaders and directors of many area non-profits, such as GHCCM, as members. Representing GHCCM as club members are Executive Director, Kathy Wood, and Vice President and voting member, Michael Blackburn.

Rotary Club of Hickory members will assist GHCCM staff performing indoor and outdoor work at the Whole Life Center (WLC) building (across the street) and indoor work at 31 Thrift and More. Volunteers will begin work at Greater Hickory Cooperative Christian Ministry, 31 1st Avenue, SE, Hickory, NC 28602 on February 23, 2019, 8:30 am until 10:30 am.

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Rotary Club of Hickory volunteers will be joined in Service and Celebration by Rotary District 7670 District Governor Elect, Tiffany Ervin. Known worldwide as the “Rotary Geek,” she has been on two international service trips with Rotary International, served Rotary District 7670 as Public Image chair, District Conference chair (three times), Membership Chair and Assistant Governor. She is past president of the Four Seasons Rotary Club (in Hendersonville, NC) and a three time recipient of the Paul Harris Fellow award. She was recently selected to serve as Rotary District 7670 Governor for Western North Carolina (USA) in 2019-2020.

During the event, the City of Hickory will officially recognize all three Rotary Clubs that call Hickory home. Mayor Hank Guess will present a proclamation recognizing February 23 as Rotary Day in the City of Hickory in recognition of the contributions to the community made by the Rotary Club of Hickory, Lake Hickory Rotary Club and Hickory Sunrise Rotary Club.