Bermuda’s branches of an international charitable institution are celebrating 100 years of friendship and service.

As Rotary Clubs of Bermuda mark their centennial, The Royal Gazette spoke to veteran members — as well as a newcomer — about the rewards of serving the community.

Rotary International was founded in 1905 by Paul Harris, a Chicago-based lawyer.

The island’s clubs got their start in 1924, under the sponsorship of the New York branch, and today are part of Rotary District 7230. Bermuda has four clubs.

Rotary went from strength to strength, with Mr Harris calling on the island for an official visit in 1926.

Mansfield Brock, a former Permanent Secretary of Education and the founding chief executive of the Bermuda College, recalled joining in 1976, drawn to Rotary’s guiding principles of truth, fairness, goodwill and friendship.

Hamilton Rotary Club’s programmes impressed him — especially its student loan programme for “capable but financially strapped students” to borrow money from the club to help fund college and university education abroad.

Mr Brock said: “I wanted to be a part of that worthy programme.

“Also, I thought the Rotary Exchange Programme, which enables Bermudian students to spend a year abroad in a foreign country after the completion of high school in exchange for a student from the foreign country spending a year in Bermuda, was a terrific programme.

“Finally, Rotary’s financial support of charitable organisations helps the needy in our society and always requires an extra pair of hands.”

John Kessaram, one of the island’s leading accountants, said that he joined at a time when a variation of polio had broken out in remote parts of the world.

“My very close relative, the late Doulat Tolaram, informed me that there was a new club being formed which was being sponsored by the Hamilton Rotary Club, and he put my name forward.”

Mr Kessaram learnt of Rotary’s “polio plus” push to eradicate polio and other diseases such as diphtheria.

“As a worldwide organisation comprising business and professional leaders, Rotary was uniquely placed to make a difference towards the eradication of polio,” he said.

“I was fascinated to hear of the penetration into the remotest parts of the world to deliver a vaccine which had to be kept under certain temperature conditions to maintain its effectiveness.

“Thanks to the involvement of this great organisation, the disease has been largely contained, saving countless lives.”

His branch, Pembroke Rotary Club, has led donations to the island’s charities.

Mr Kessaram also praised its student exchange, which has cemented friendships with students abroad.

“We volunteered to assist in the building of a soup kitchen in Brazil,” he said. “This provided a wonderful opportunity to experience a different culture.”

The club, where projects include building a raised garden for long-term patients at the entrance to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, helps the Salvation Army under the direction of Delano Ingham.

It has provided backpacks and laptops to children in foster care.

He added: “We were the first club to admit women as full members as heretofore Rotary in Bermuda had been the preserve of males. Gilda Furbert was our first female member.

“Overall, the balance of fellowship and service to others motivates me to keep engaged and to experience the blessings that can come from providing service to others.”

Renowned chef Frederick Ming has put in roughly 45 years at St George’s Rotary Club, where he was a president, as well as the district governor’s representative.

Mr Ming said membership has dwindled since its heyday of roughly 50 members, but he continued to enjoy the fellowship.

“When we had club members coming in from overseas, my wife and I would entertain them at our house, showing Bermuda hospitality,” he recalled.

Mr Ming also highlighted the opportunities brought by the student exchange programme.

His contributions to the club over the years have been acknowledged with three Paul Harris fellowships.

Leslie Grant, head of the addiction treatment service Focus Counselling, is a relative newcomer, having joined Sandys Rotary two years ago.

“I was looking for something community-orientated. I’d heard positive things about what Rotary does and can do.

“I reached out to the membership, but mostly I was intrigued by the positive feedback from others.”

Mr Grant noted Rotarians’ contribution to buying a vehicle for the seniors’ charity Project Action, and the charity’s work overseas such as helping a village to build a well.

He explained: “One of the main mottos is ‘service before self’, which really hits home for me. It gives me a chance to serve my community in a way outside of the work that I do.

“That’s what attracted me. There are opportunities for networking and camaraderie, but it’s a way to give back.

“We have partnered with Keep Bermuda Beautiful so that we can take care of part of the Railway Trail in Sandys and Southampton. We also help with their annual clean-ups.

“We assist the Salvation Army with their kettle drive at the Christmas season.

“It’s been rewarding. I don’t think I have even cleared the surface of what they do, such as the educational opportunities they offer.

“Rotary has so much to offer.”