Mayville Village Mayor Martin Bova, Jr., holds Rotary International Proclamation for its official Feb. 23, 1905, founding. This year focuses on RI’s and Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club’s Polio Plus program to completely eradicate Polio throughout the world. In addition to the W/M club, members represent Ripley, Sherman and Brocton. Westfield Mayor David Carr also signed a proclamation. (Submitted Photo)

The Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club will join in a worldwide observance of the founding of Rotary International this week, specifically Feb. 23, 1905.

Founded in Chicago, it is the world’s first and largest non-profit organization with more than 1.25 million members comprised of professional and business leaders in more than 33,000 clubs in 200 countries.

The Rotary motto, “Service Above Self,” inspires members to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in business and professional life and promote good will and peace in the world.

This year, Rotary’s 105th anniversary is focused on a cure for polio. In 1985, Rotary International launched “Polio Plus” by spearheading efforts with the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF to immunize the children of the world against Polio.

This year, Rotary’s emphasis is “End Polio Now.” Rotarians in our community- in addition to Westfield and Mayville are Ripley, Sherman and Brocton – have supported in the past and continue to work to purge the world of the scourge of childhood Polio and eliminate the pain and suffering caused by this dreaded disease.

Ben Spitzer, left, Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club president; and Tom Berkhouse, Rotary Auction chair; show the Rotary International Proclamation, signed by Westfield Mayor David Carr, issued for its official Feb. 23, 1905, founding and leader in eradicating worldwide Polio. In addition to Westfield and Mayville, members also represent Ripley, Sherman and Brocton. Spitzer and Berkhouse chose the Westfield Memorial Hospital as their background to remind the community it was the local Rotary Club that founded the hospital in 1942. (Submitted Photo)

To emphasize the campaign, David L. Carr, mayor of the village of Westfield; and Martin Bova, Jr., mayor of the village of Mayville; have each signed a Rotary International proclamation which encourages all citizens to join them in recognizing Rotary International, as well as the Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club, in their efforts to eradicate Polio.

The proclamation also invites residents of the five communities to recognize the local Rotary Club – which founded the Westfield Memorial Hospital in 1942 - for years of valuable and dedicated service.

Westfield/Mayville Rotary Club’s contributions to the Polio effort come from various fundraisers, such as the upcoming May 5 Rotary Auction. To be held at the Westfield Firemen’s Exempt Hall, there are 300 tickets available for Chiavetta’s Chicken dinner and the opportunity to win a bid on each item for just $10 each.