WHEREAS, over the more than 100 years of its existence, Rotary International (RI), a worldwide non-political, non-religious organisation with a membership of more than 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders, has provided humanitarian service, encouraged high ethical standards in all vocations, and helped to build goodwill and peace in the world; AND WHEREAS, the main objective of Rotary is captured in the organisation's motto, "Service Above Self", and expressed through the work of the approximately 33,000 Rotary Clubs that are located in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world, as they provide service to their communities, workplaces and the wider world; AND WHEREAS, the first Rotary Club to be established in the Bahamas is the Rotary Club of Nassau, which was chartered on January 19, 1962, thereby making all other Rotary Clubs in the Bahamas off-shoots thereof; AND WHEREAS, there are at present (9) clubs in the Bahamas, six of which are on New Providence, one in each of the islands of Abaco, Eleuthera and Cat Island, with a combined membership of approximately 409 Bahamian Rotarians; AND WHEREAS, the Rotary Clubs in the Bahamas are a part of RI District 7020, which comprises 10 Caribbean countries on 16 islands, is proud to have produced six district governors, namely Keith Duncombe, Al Cartwright, Barry Rassin (who is also a past director of Rotary International), John Robertson, Eddie Bostwick and Richard McCombe; AND WHEREAS, in addition to having constructed the Salvation Army building on Mackey Street and the Cheshire Home on Dolphin Drive, the Rotary Clubs in the Bahamas have, over the years, worked with the police, educators and medical personnel to instill the Objects of Rotary in the lives of Bahamians nationwide. Having undertaken and launched such significant programmes and projects such as the annual Mini United Nations Sessions (MUNS); the procurement of a Bloodmobile; a Relief Emergency Water Supply Plant for Grand Bahama; the procurement of Nursing Simulators; the donation of over 1,000 wheelchairs to physically disabled persons; the Breathe Easy Campaign; the Hands Across the Bahamas initiative; a teen pregnancy education programme for high school students called "Baby Think it Over"; and the literacy programme known as "Project READ"; AND WHEREAS, in commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Rotary in the Bahamas, the Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas has planned a schedule of activities, inclusive of an Anniversary Ball, the participation of 50 Rotarians in the Bahamas Marathon, a blood drive, a golf tournament and a church service to mark the occasion, the highlight of which will be the visit to the Bahamas by the RI President, Mr Kalyan Banerjee; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Hubert A Ingraham, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, do hereby proclaim January 2012 as "ROTARY CLUBS OF THE BAHAMAS ANNIVERSARY MONTH" IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this 15th day of November, 2011. HUBERT A INGRAHAM PRIME MINISTER * This message was published in the programme for the 50th anniversary Ball which was held in the Crown Ballroom of the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island January 6.