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Rotary Club of Blytheville turns 100
On Wednesday, Feb. 9, the Rotary Club of Blytheville turned 100 years old.
Blytheville Mayor James Sanders recognized the civic club’s service to Blytheville by proclaiming Feb. 9, as Rotary Day in Blytheville.
The Rotary Club of Blytheville was founded Feb. 9, 1922. It is part of District 6150.
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, Rotarians are always working to better the world, and stay committed to the end.
Rotary members believe that they have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Their 46,000-plus clubs work together to:
• Promote peace
• Fight disease
• Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
• Save mothers and children
• Support education
• Grow local economies
• Protect the environment
Rotary Clubs provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
Together, they see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Rotary International has worked to help eradicate Polio worldwide.
Locally, the Blytheville Rotary Club sponsors two youth baseball/softball teams each year, funds five $1,000 scholarships annually, provides books to every first or second grader in Mississippi County, donates to the Blytheville/Gosnell Food Pantry and supports several school programs, including the Backpack Program, Interact, Odyssey of the Mind, and others.
In the past, it has supported young people through several other programs as well such as the Scouts, Girls State, Boys State, sponsoring books for the Mississippi County Library System in honor of the weekly speaker and providing dictionaries and thesauruses.
The club has previously provided a Thanksgiving meal to Abilities Unlimited participants and has supported a number of worthy organizations such as the United Way.
Several years ago, the local civic club installed 35 Little Free Libraries around Mississippi County after receiving a global grant from Rotary International. The little blue boxes around town allow residents to take a book and leave a book if they wish.
The Blytheville Rotary Club sends 2-3 sophomores or juniors to the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) each year at Ferndale and sponsors youth exchange programs, including sending Blytheville High School graduate Dominique Moody to Finland in 2019. She also hosted a student from Finland.
At RYLA, a program Moody also participated in, students learn leadership skills, meet new people and have a blast at the camp. Most leave teary-eyed because they become so close to their new friends.
Also, the Rotary Club of Blytheville sponsors a Drug Take Back Box, which allows residents to drop off old prescription medication for disposal at the police department.
Meanwhile, each year, the Rotary Club of Blytheville recognizes a Police Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year at its annual banquet.