Joplin Rotary - Joplin Rotary

The Rotary Club of Joplin, sometimes called the "noon club" meets each Thursday noon at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club. It is one of the largest service organizations in Joplin with 114 members. The club attracts interesting speakers which provide timely information to its influential membership. The Rotary Club of Joplin was organized February 12, 1916 and was chartered as club number 243 August 1, 1916.

The club conducts many local projects and contributes through its local foundation to worthwhile causes. The Community Clinic of Joplin has been the recipient of toys, equipment, furniture, books, games, videos and a TV/VCR with Cable Service for the Rotary Sponsored Children's area. Clinic landscaping was provided and installed by club members. The April, 2007 Golf Scramble continued the club's support by raising over $12,000.

A Turnaround Ranch picnic is conducted and funded annually. Club members ring Salvation Army Bells; pick up trash in the Adopt-A-Highway program; sell EXTRA Joplin Globe newspapers; hold an annual reception for area international students and recruit for the Rotary organ and tissue donor program. Individual members are active in almost every humanitarian and civic activity in the Joplin area.

Eleventh grade students are screened and sponsored for the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp. An annual 4-Way Test contest is co-sponsored with the Daybreak Rotary Club of Joplin.

Other contributions and financial support include: Boy's and Girl's Club of Joplin, Franklin Tech Scholarships, Boy's and Girl's State and sponsorship of Exchange teams from foreign countries.

Seventy-nine current and former members, spouses and friends have become Paul Harris Fellows by contributing a minimum of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. The foundation supports the humanitarian and educational programs of Rotary International. Many other members are moving toward becoming Paul Harris Fellows and are designated "sustaining members".

Rotary International's most famous humanitarian program is Polio Plus which is Rotary's campaign in support of the global effort to eradicate Polio. By 2005 Rotary's contribution to the global polio eradication effort will be approximately a half billion dollars. Rotary International conducts many other humanitarian and educational activities. You may wish to visit www.rotary.org to learn more about these activities.

The primary purpose of Rotary membership is to provide each member a unique opportunity to serve others. The Rotary Club of Joplin is firmly committed to the motto of Rotary "Service above Self".