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The Franklin City Council took time during its Monday, April 8, meeting to honor and congratulate the Rotary Club of Franklin for its 100th anniversary, which arrives Tuesday, April 16.

“Rotary Clubs bring together people across generations who wish to create lasting change in the world, in their communities and in themselves,” Franklin Mayor Robert “Bobby” Cutchins said. “Rotary and Rotary members around the world strengthen our connections to friends and neighbors, taking action through service. And we thank you for that, all of you.”

Franklin Rotary Club President Dr. Charles Qualls represented the club at the council meeting and accepted a printed copy of the resolution that the council voted to adopt in commemoration of the club’s 100 years of service.

Just prior to the resolution’s adoption, Ward 1 Councilman Mark R. Kitchen read it aloud.

The resolution reads as follows:

“Whereas, Rotary International was founded on Feb. 23, 1905, and has now expanded to more than 46,000 clubs worldwide; and

“Whereas, Rotary International’s mission statement is ‘to provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through our fellowship of business, professional and community leaders’; and

“Whereas, the Franklin Rotary Club was founded on April 16, 1924, by a cross section of sixteen of Franklin’s community leaders, with these charter members being dedicated to the ideals of fellowship and service; and

“Whereas, the spirit, which imbued the charter members of the Franklin Rotary Club, has continued through the whole one hundred years of its existence, as embodied by the club’s emulation of Rotary International’s mission statement and its enduring motto, ‘Service Above Self’; and

“Whereas, the Franklin Rotary Club has made myriad contributions to the city of Franklin and its citizens throughout these one hundred years by providing scholarships to assist local students in continuing their education; by providing agency grants to local nonprofit organizations to assist them with their benevolent and educational work; by assisting the youth of our community in such endeavors as sponsoring Little League teams and Youth Leadership programs; by partnering with other local entities such as The Village at Woods Edge, the Foodbank, local law enforcement and other local agencies too numerous to mention, with financial assistance and membership participation, with the underlying goal of all being to serve the citizens of our city and surrounding environs; and

“Whereas, it is entirely appropriate that this council should pause in its deliberations to recognize and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Franklin Rotary Club and honor its 100 years of service to the citizens of Franklin and neighboring communities, as it celebrates its 100th year;

“Now, therefore be it resolved, that Franklin City Council does hereby honor and congratulate the members of the Franklin Rotary Club for 100 successful years of exemplary service to our city and to the citizens of Franklin and surrounding environs and wish it continued success as it carries Rotary International’s mission into a new century of service.”

Following the council’s adoption vote, Qualls was asked if he had anything he wanted to say.

“I just appreciate the city taking up this resolution and being a part of our celebration,” Qualls said. “You only turn 100 years old once, and we’re trying to enjoy this. 

“I do want to add, finally, Franklin Rotary Club is, in its 100th year, still a viable, strong organization serving the community, adding new members, and we’re having a good time still,” he said. “Thank you so much, Mayor and council.”

As Cutchins presented Qualls with a physical copy of the resolution, he said, “I was thinking today, we had a partial eclipse, right? And we were all told to protect our eyes and so forth, and it got me thinking about the resolution tonight, because it all starts with a vision. Somebody had the vision to get (the Franklin Rotary Club) going, so we have to watch and take the visions and do careful planning to keep it going forward. It looks like this group has done a wonderful job, so thank you, sir.”