Sunrise History

 

 

Rotary is a global network of community volunteers. Rotary members are business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.  The Rotary motto is Service Above Self.

 

Some 32,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries carry out service projects in their local communities and abroad to address such critical issues as poverty, health, hunger, illiteracy, and the environment.  Kalamazoo Sunrise is a member of Rotary District 6360.

 

The Rotary Club of Kalamazoo - Sunrise, Kalamazoo, Michigan U.S.A. was organized as a provisional club of Rotary International on March 22, 1986 with 28 members.  This new club was sponsored by the Kalamazoo Rotary Club.  Charter night was May 5, 1986 at the Kalamazoo Hilton, Kalamazoo Center, Kalamazoo, Michigan.  One of our charter members remains active in the Club today.

 

The club’s first community service project was Flower Fest 1986, which required volunteers to adopt flower beds and be responsible for planting and maintenance; and the first fund raiser was selling Christmas gift stickers in order to raise monies to assist in the support of Pathways, an agency mainstreaming clients treated for mental disorders back into society. 

 

Today, we remain active in our community.  Our signature project is Rose Park Veterans Memorial, a beautiful monument to those who have served or are currently active in our military.  The park is located on the Kalamazoo River.  We also are responsible for the annual Memorial Day Parade which stops at the Park in memory of veterans, and the Veterans Day Program, also held at the Park.  We drive weekly for the Meals on Wheels program associated with Senior Services and participate actively in other community and international service projects.

 

The club was incorporated as a charitable corporation in the state of Michigan on July 19, 1991.