HONORING ROTARY CLUB OF DAVIS

On 2026-10-05, Representative Mike Thompson (D-CA-4) delivered a floor speech titled "HONORING ROTARY CLUB OF DAVIS" in the House.

HONORING ROTARY CLUB OF DAVIS

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 157 (Monday, October 5, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E1025-E1026] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] HONORING ROTARY CLUB OF DAVIS ______ HON. MIKE THOMPSON of california in the house of representatives Monday, October 5, 2026 Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Rotary Club of Davis on their centennial anniversary as they celebrate 100 years of community service. [[Page E1026]] At the time of the Rotary Club of Davis's founding in 1926, the City of Davis, California only had population of approximately 2,000 people. Of those residents, 25 business owners, University of California staff, and farmers joined together to form a Rotary Club that aimed to promote fellowship and provide community service. Four of the Davis Rotary's founding members had previously served on the first Davis City Council. The Rotary Club of Davis is chartered under Rotary International, which began in 1905 as an all-male organization. By the mid-1970s, many members of Davis Rotary Club were among those urging Rotary International to change that policy. When Rotary International finally did so in 1987, Rotary Club of Davis was among the first chapters to admit women to their membership. Since then, many women have served in club leadership, including current president Donna Prebys. Rotary Club of Davis is committed to community service. The club's first community project was the Davis Boy Scout cabin which was constructed in 1927 and maintained through the year 2000. In its early decades, the club made grants to individuals in the community who needed assistance with healthcare costs and maintained a loan program for international students at the university. The club landscaped the Davis High School campus in the 1970s, built a stage at the local Pence Gallery in the 1980s, and helped with projects at the University of California Davis Arboretum and North Davis Ponds in the 1990s. Today, the club provides volunteers and financial support for worthy causes such as Meals on Wheels, the Yolo Food Bank, the Yolo Crisis Nursery, Yolo County Children's Alliance, Cameron's Place, Empower Yolo, and the Salvation Army. Through their annual Big Night fundraising dinner, which began in 2000, the Rotary Club of Davis has raised over $1 million dedicated to Yolo County organizations working to prevent child abuse. The Davis Rotary supports the work of the Rotary Foundation and its projects worldwide. They have partnered with other Rotary Clubs on a host of projects, including the City of Davis's Sister City, Uman, Ukraine, and most recently, the Vacaville Rotary Club's project to build water wells in a remote village in Peru. They have supported worthy causes with Sahaya International in Africa and The Wardrobe in Ukraine. Mr. Speaker, Rotary Club of Davis has dedicated 100 years of service to our Davis community. Therefore, it is fitting and proper that we honor the Rotary Club here today. ____________________