Last Tuesday the Covington Rotary Club honored 30 of the brightest and most active students of Newton County. We are impressed and encouraged by the depth of the honorees resumes every time we have the privilege to attend one of these award ceremonies that celebrate the accomplishments of our young people. It gives us hope that we do indeed have a bright future pool of businessmen and leaders that will carry not only our community but our country forward into the rest of this century.

We also would like to thank the Covington Rotary for honoring these special young people.

Rotary was started because of the dream of a Chicago attorney named Paul Harris who in 1905 got together a group of his businessmen friends to start the world's first service club.

That dream has, over the years, turned into 32,000 clubs worldwide with 1.2 million members, of which about 75 are proud members of the Covington club.

Rotary International has contributed more than $500 million over the years to virtually eliminate polio around the world, especially in third world countries. Rotarians also contribute manpower and monies to promote world peace and literacy.

Our local club contributes to the advancement of our local youth through scholarships and mentoring.

During the Christmas season, the club sponsors the Empty Stoking Fund, which insures that hundreds of local families enjoy the true Christmas spirit.

As business leaders, they are involved in leadership roles in every facet of our community life.

Rotarians do indeed everyday live up to their motto "Service above Self." An excellent motto for all of us to follow in our own everyday lives.