CAPE GIRARDEAU ROTARY CLUB OBSERVES 75 YEARS

The ideal that people can help each other and in turn improve their communities drives the 1.2 million-member Rotary International organization.

Clifford L. Dochterman, president in 1992-93 of Rotary International, was the keynote speaker at both a luncheon and dinner held Thursday to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Cape Girardeau Rotary Club. He spoke about the Rotary Club's commitment to service both at home and in other countries.

"As I traveled I saw all these differences -- different languages, different ethnic groups, different religions, different cultures. The one thing that unites them is the belief that they can help other people and really can make a difference," Dochterman said.

"That's what this Rotary Club in Cape Girardeau is about. For 75 years they have been getting together to make things better."

"When you want something done, generally you call a friend," Dochterman said. "Rotary members work together to build fellowship and friendship, the first step towards building a community."

The first Rotary Club started in Chicago in 1905 by Paul Harris. "It was the first service club," Dochterman said. "All the other service clubs -- the Lions, the Kiwanis, the Optimists -- are based on the model of the Rotary Club."

Today, Rotary clubs are active in 188 countries and geographical territories, including the former Soviet Union. There are some 26,000 individual Rotary clubs.

"The whole purpose is one of service, helping communities to meet their needs and improve the quality of life," Dochterman said.

Dochterman said people often quiz him about his personal dedication to Rotary. Last year as international president he traveled 237,000 miles and spent just five nights at his home.

"They ask, Why do you do this, give the money, the time, the effort to help other people?" The answer is simple: "The greatest moments of happiness come from helping others," he said.

"It's not what you collect but what you can give. There is a satisfaction that comes from that kind of service. The whole purpose is helping other people.

Dochterman said projects of Rotary International and of local clubs all focus on improving communities in one way or another. For example, the organization has sponsored a program called Polio Plus, designed to eliminate polio and other childhood diseases.

In 1981, Rotary International adopted a goal to immunize all the children of the world against polio. At that time it meant immunizing about 500,000 children.

Clubs raised $248 million to buy vaccine, Dochterman said. "Then last summer we had a little ceremony as we immunized the 500 millionth child."

Of course, the number of children has increase so the program continues. "We still think by the end of this century we can achieve our goal of eradicating polio," he said.

Rotary is involved in drug abuse prevention, education and rehabilitation, preserving the environment through planting trees, providing clean water and curbing pollution.

"Literacy is a goal," he said. "In many, many areas the literacy rate is so low. Even in the United States, a quarter of our people are not functionally literate."

The organization addresses hunger. "There is short-term hunger and starvation but also long-term hunger, people who don't have adequate nutrition," Dochterman said.

The program addressing hunger -- and virtually all Rotary programs -- are designed to give people the tools they need to help their own communities.

"We don't just go in and hand out food; we also go in and offer education and vocational training for better nutrition and better food production."