Yellowknife (Feb 25/05) - One hundred years ago in Chicago, a club was formed dedicated to cultivating business ties and developing friendships.

Today, Rotary International has spread across the globe with its "Service Above Self" message of stewardship and community service.

Wheels for Mexico John Thompson Northern News Services Yellowknife Rotary will mark the centennial anniversary of the service organization by shipping 280 wheelchairs to Cancun, Mexico. "It's probably our most ambitious international project to date," said Rotary president Al Hoeft. The chairs were bought by the club for $110 a piece from a manufacturer in China, who will ship them to Mexico. The club already has 110 sponsors to pay for some of the wheelchairs, and now they're searching for businesses and individuals to fill the rest. Donors will receive a portfolio with a photo of the person who receives the wheelchair they helped fund, said Barry Talbot, Rotary's international services director. "You'll know exactly who's getting it," said Talbot, who visited Cancun several years ago. "Once you get away from the resorts, it's basically abject poverty." In early April, four Yk Rotary members will fly down with their families, paying their own expenses, to help distribute the chairs with Rotary club members from Cancun. Feb. 23, was the 100th anniversary of Rotary International.

There are now more than one million members worldwide.

Yellowknife Rotary president Al Hoeft says the club, established in 1971, continues to be active in the city with a membership of 71.

Global organization

"As part of this global organization, we're all participating in various types of celebrations," Hoeft says.

For that reason, the annual Rotary Radio Day, usually held in March, was moved up to coincide with the Feb. 23 anniversary.

During the day-long event, Rotarians hit the airwaves on CJCD to fundraise for various projects and raise awareness about the club.

"And we are participating in a local project to celebrate the 100th year - the waterfront park down by the Dettah ice road," Hoeft says.

Hoeft attributes the longevity of the Rotary Club to the fact members are not there to represent themselves, but to represent their professions.

"We have membership in the club through what we call a classification system. I'm here under religious services," says Hoeft. He's a captain with the Salvation Army.

"Rotary is a group that stands up and says that we not only want to work in the community for the good of our community, but we want to do it in an ethical way marked with integrity," Hoeft says.

Being part of Rotary fosters a fellowship among members.

"We've often been through difficult and wonderful times with each other and at the same time, it's an opportunity to encourage each other to live by the Rotary motto and work with integrity in our profession," Hoeft says.

The Yellowknife Rotary Club is also active in providing snacks to children in Weledeh and Mildred Hall school and the Kids Ahead reading program.

Anywhere in world

"That's one of the things that is really strong with Rotary.

"And when I travel, I can go to Rotary Clubs anywhere in the world and participate in meetings there."

Roland Gosselin says Rotary gives him an opportunity to work with the community in many ways.

"There are a variety of projects that come along all the time," Gosselin says.

Barry Talbot, a member for 21 years, says a major project for the Yellowknife club was to build the Range Lake trail.

He says the club gets great support from the city.

"Any time we have any fundraising initiatives, it's phenomenal," Talbot says.