SCR 2-ROTARY INTERNATIONAL YEAR 2005                                                                          
                                                                                                                              
4:28:23 PM                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THERRIAULT announced SCR 2 to be up for consideration.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MELANIE  LESH,  staff  to bill  sponsor,  Senator  Gary  Stevens,                                                               
explained the resolution proclaims  2005 as "Rotary International                                                               
Year" and Mr. Dahl could speak to the resolution.                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CRAIG  DAHL,  assistant  district governor  for  Rotary  district                                                               
5010, thanked members  of the Senate for  acknowledging 100 years                                                               
of service by  Rotary International. District 5010  has more than                                                               
2,600  members  and  includes  Eastern  Russia,  the  Yukon,  and                                                               
Alaska. It's  the most unique district  in the world and  is used                                                               
as a  model for programs  such as foundation fundraising  and the                                                               
youth exchange program.                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
4:30:53 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
During  the centennial  year  tremendous effort  will  go into  a                                                               
variety of projects that focus on  youth and a variety of service                                                               
programs.  One  highlight would  be  the  joint effort  with  the                                                               
Rasmussen Foundation to construct a  teen center in Anchorage and                                                               
another  would  be  the Centennial  Bridge  in  Whitehorse.  Most                                                               
community  service projects  target  youth  and the  scholarships                                                               
raised throughout the state target youth as well, he said.                                                                      
                                                                                                                                
He  reiterated  thanks  for acknowledging  100  years  of  Rotary                                                               
service.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR WAGONER asked Mr. Dahl to talk about Interact Clubs.                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
MR. DAHL explained  that Interact Clubs at the  high school level                                                               
and  Rotaract Clubs  at  the university  level  work with  Rotary                                                               
Clubs  to learn  about  the "service  above  self" and  community                                                               
service  concepts.  The  clubs  prepare  youths  to  become  good                                                               
Rotarians when they get older.                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  THERRIAULT  asked  about  the level  of  participation  in                                                               
Alaska.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. DAHL  said Rotary is  growing and the  ideal that a  group of                                                               
professional adults are focused on  community service is a strong                                                               
bond  and  motivating  tool.  The  spirit  of  living  in  Alaska                                                               
typifies the spirit of Rotary, he said.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  THERRIAULT  asked how  many  Alaskans  participate in  the                                                               
exchange program.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
MR. DAHL said the 35 clubs  in Alaska are sending out 41 exchange                                                               
students this  year and basically  for each student that  is sent                                                               
out, one student is brought in.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  THERRIAULT remarked  youth  exchange is  a  great part  of                                                               
Rotary.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR CHARLIE  HUGGINS stated  that the  exchange program  is a                                                               
tremendous program for international relations.                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
MR. DAHL  said it's very  exciting to  see over 100  students who                                                               
have  shared   or  are  preparing   to  share   an  international                                                               
experience.                                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  THERRIAULT  questioned   whether  outbound  students  ever                                                               
expressed concern about losing the PFD.                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
MR. DAHL said no.                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR THERRIAULT stated he had  no concerns regarding language in                                                               
the resolution.                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
4:38:48 PM                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  HUGGINS  motioned to  move  SCR  2 from  committee  with                                                               
individual recommendations  and zero fiscal note.  There being no                                                               
objection, it was so ordered.