SENATE MEMORIAL 13

50th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2012

INTRODUCED BY

Cisco McSorley

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 3, 2012 "ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT DAY" AT THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, more than one hundred years ago, the rotary club of Chicago was formed, and by 1921, rotary organizations existed on six continents; and

     WHEREAS, rotary clubs were created to help serve communities in need; and

     WHEREAS, today, more than one million members belong to more than thirty-two thousand rotary clubs in more than two hundred countries; and

     WHEREAS, rotary international has a primary goal of "world peace and understanding"; and

     WHEREAS, the rotary youth exchange program provides service to youths and helps in the creation of young leaders who understand cultural tolerance and have international awareness; and

     WHEREAS, more than eight thousand students utilize the program each year to visit eighty countries across the world; and

     WHEREAS, the students sponsored in district 5520 in New Mexico and west Texas bring the entire world to New Mexico towns and villages; and

     WHEREAS, youths participating in the program serve as young ambassadors of peace and create powerful family relationships in the homes that host them and in their local rotary clubs; and

     WHEREAS, New Mexico is fortunate to have these model teenagers in high schools across the state; and

     WHEREAS, sixteen students are currently being hosted in New Mexico, educating residents of the state on other cultures and experiencing the diverse and unique culture of New Mexico;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 3, 2012 be proclaimed "Rotary Exchange Student Day" at the senate to honor rotary international and those students that participate in the rotary youth exchange program; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to rotary international.

- 2 -