Rotary is an organization of business, professional, and other like-minded individuals united worldwide.  We work to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standard in all endeavors, and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. 

 

Rotary had its beginnings in Chicago in 1905 when a businessman named Paul Harris formed a club with a unique blend of commerce and social consciousness. As it expanded, it became Rotary International – the world’s first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs in 200 countries or geographical locations today.

 

The Rotary Club of Hamburg was chartered on February 24, 1942 and continues to provide service to our local community through projects such as Warm the Children that provides warm winter clothing for children in need, and funding for a number of not-for-profit organizations.  Some of these organizations include:  the Hamburg Counseling Service of which this club was a founding member, the Hamburg Paleontological Society’s Penn Dixie Fossil Site and the Lounsbury Adaptive Ski Program for children with disabling conditions.  Other areas supported include:  Reach out and Read – a literacy program for young children, scholarships for graduating seniors at both local public high schools, and financial support for young adults to attend Rotary District 7090’s two leadership programs -  RYLA for young adults and SLAPSHOT for high school students.

 

The Rotary Club of Hamburg embraces our Rotary International motto of “Service above Self” through project support and direct service that we believe makes our community a better place to live and raise a family.  The first club project in 1942 provided the Hamburg Volunteer Fire Department with its first emergency rig. Other early projects included: sponsorship of a youth baseball team (which we still continue), financial aid to Girl Scout Mariners, speakers for the Community Resources Program, and kitchen facilities at the Hamburg Youth Center in the Village.  Since its founding, we have continued to support the Cradle Beach Camp in Angola that serves children with disabilities and socio-economically disadvantaged children.  The club’s lengthy list of projects includes: construction of the cupola on the brand new Hamburg Village Hall in 1967, the expansion of driver education facilities at the Hamburg High School in the 1960s, and development of the baseball fields on Lakeview Road. More recent projects include fencing for the baseball field on Lakeview Road, support of the Kathleen Mary House in Blasdell for abused women, a new transport stretcher for the Hamburg Fire Department, and support to Imagine Hamburg for trash receptacles for two Village parks. On an international level, we supported a sewing project in Ecuador and annually support Rotary International’s effort to End Polio in the World.  Our two major fundraising events are:  Breakfast with the Bunny and Burgerfest (organized and implemented with the Hamburg Rotary Sunrise Club (a spin-off of our club), the Hamburg Lions Club, and the Hamburg Kiwanis Club).  These are not only fund raisers but also provide a service to the adults and children of our community.

 

The Rotary Club of Hamburg meets every Tuesday at 6:15 pm at Uncle Joe's on Southwestern Blvd.  Those persons interested in learning more about our club and Rotary International are invited and welcomed to attend any meeting.  Additional information may be obtained by visiting www.hamburgrotaryclub.orgor visit Facebook at Rotary Club of Hamburg.