The Opening Celebration for the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Alexandria will be held on Wednesday, November 16th.  Rotary International President John Germ will be the keynote speaker.  This special event will be held at the City Hall Convention Center from 11:30am to 1:00pm.  The Rotary Club of Alexandria is planning a year of activities, special speakers each month, along with a number of significant community projects.

The Rotary Club of Alexandria is the largest service club in our area and the largest gathering of business and professional leaders in our community meeting on a regular basis.  The Alexandria Club is 259th oldest in the Rotary world of over 34,000 Rotary Clubs.

The Club will be a major sponsor in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Rapides Symphony Orchestra and will help sponsor a permanent exhibit at the Alexandria Museum of Art in celebration of the Museum’s 40th Anniversary.  Other projects include the annual Doll and Toy Fund distribution of gifts to children at Christmas time, Career Day, College Scholarships, Student Exchanges, Leadership Camp, and recognizing a person in Central Louisiana with the prestigious “Service Above Self” Award.  The four-sided clock at Downtown Fulton Square was given by the Rotary Club in celebration of the City of Alexandria’s 200th Anniversary.

Rotary International President John Germ is Board Chair and CEO of Campbell and Associates Inc., Consulting Engineers. President Germ has received many honors within his industry, his state and Rotary International.  His theme for the Rotary Year is “Rotary Serving Humanity”, noting Rotary’s unique ability to bring together committed professionals to achieve remarkable good throughout the world.

One of Rotary International’s major projects is the final elimination of polio throughout the world.  The Rotary District of North Louisiana, along with matching funds from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, raised over $156,000 for polio eradication, and a check will be presented to President Germ to support this important project.

Rotary International, founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1905, is now one of the oldest and largest Service Organizations in the World!