By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
One hundred years is a long time for anything. There are more than 1.4 million Rotarians worldwide, serving more than 46,000 local clubs. Last week, Rotary District Governor Ivanhoe Love presented the Great Bend club a certificate for 100 years of service. Club President Khris Thexton accepted the certificate.
"I've been part of Rotary in previous communities I've been in," Thexton said. "I just enjoy what they do for the community. It's pretty neat that we're a club that's lasted for 100 years."
Globally, Rotary is known for its work to eradicate polio. Members have donated more than $2.1 billion to help protect three billion children in 122 countries from the disease. Each club has its own local projects.
"Locally, we've got some pretty neat things with some history on the buildings here in the community," said Thexton. "They're putting up bronze plaques throughout the area of some of the old buildings from the past that are still standing and have a pretty good history behind them. They also continue to work on Rotary Lake."
In 2018, Great Bend Rotary announced its plans to improve Rotary Lake, formerly known as MacArthur Lake, in southwest Great Bend.