Assembly Resolution No. 197

BY: M. of A. Norris

COMMEMORATING the 100th Anniversary of the
Lockport Rotary Club No. 4744

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute to those organizations of high purpose and worthy
accomplishment whose endeavors have faithfully served the welfare of the
citizens of the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Lockport Rotary Club No. 4744;
and

WHEREAS, To observe the centennial, the Lockport Rotary Club No.
4744 will be fundraising and coordinating the refurbishment of the
historic clock in the Lockport City Center, thus holding true to the
Rotary's motto of "Service above Self"; and

WHEREAS, The world's first service club, Rotary International was
founded on February 23, 1905, when Paul Harris, a native of Vermont,
found himself a stranger in the city of Chicago; he conceived the idea
of inviting three men of different vocations to join him weekly for
fellowship and to discuss each other's problems and business; and

WHEREAS, Today, Rotary International has grown into an organization
including over 1.2 million members in approximately 29,000 clubs across
163 countries; each club is made up of business and professional leaders
who are dedicated to humanitarian service, encourage high ethical
standards in all vocations, and help to build peace and goodwill
throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, In 1919, Lockport businessmen decided to form a local
Rotary Club; representatives met for dinner and held a discussion with
Rotarians from Buffalo and Niagara Falls to find out more about the
organization; and

WHEREAS, On May 1, 1919, the Rotary Club of Lockport No. 4744 was
chartered with 25 members; within two years this society grew to include
upward of 70 members; Charles A. Upson was the first president, serving
two consecutive terms from 1919-1920 and 1920-1921; and

WHEREAS, The mission of the Rotary Club of Lockport No. 4744 has
always been to fulfill community needs and advance world peace and
understanding; today this is accomplished through programs and projects
to support health care, youth development, sustainable communities, and
cultural exchange at the local, regional and international levels; and

WHEREAS, Throughout the years, the club's service projects helped
physically disabled children, raised money to send underprivileged boys
to camp, and donated diving rafts and other needed equipment to various
camps and playgrounds; and

WHEREAS, The Rotary Club of Lockport No. 4744 donated significant
funds to the Rotary Foundation, a great deal of which was dedicated to
the Polio Plus Program to assist in the efforts to eradicate polio; and

WHEREAS, The Rotary Club of Lockport No. 4744 held their 20th World
Travel Series in the late 1970s, which featured presentations on the
South Seas, Denmark, Greenland, Germany, and Australia; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, in 1987, the vote was held to include women as
members of the Rotary Club of Lockport No. 4744; these first remarkable
women inducted as members were Barbara Betsch, Kathleen Ganz, and
Eleanor Depeau; and

WHEREAS, The Lockport New York Rotary Foundation was incorporated as
a non-profit agency on May 31, 2011; and

WHEREAS, In 2018, the Norman W. Sinclair annual scholarship was
established at Niagara Community College, with a donation from the
Lockport New York Rotary Foundation; the strategic plan also included an
endowed scholarship that will benefit a graduating high school student
residing in the Lockport City School District; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception 100 years ago, the Lockport Rotary Club
No. 4744 has been an integral part of the local community; the Club has
made countless meaningful contributions to make Lockport a better place
to live, work and play; and

WHEREAS, The success of the Lockport Rotary Club No. 4744 is in
direct correlation to the efforts of its President Ellen Roth and its
members, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an
impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompromising
standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the organization
and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought to our attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Lockport Rotary Club No. 4744
and to wish it continued success in the coming years; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Lockport Rotary Club No. 4744.