By VERNON ROBISON
The Progress
Members of the Moapa Valley Rotary Club commemorated an act of friendship from a previous generation at an event held in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 1.
MV Rotary president Reed Werner, along with club members Garren Fulmer and Vernon Robison attended a community service event held at Rotary Park near Decatur and Valley View.
Rotarians from across the Las Vegas valley also attended the event. All attendees were offered coffee and donuts to start the day. Then they all spread out across the park for more than an hour cleaning up trash.
The Moapa Valley club was given a special invitation to attend this event because of its role in helping establish the park more than 40 years ago.
In 1982, members of the local club teamed up with Rotarians in Las Vegas and in Caliente to plant a special “Friendship Tree” in the Rotary Park.
The planting of a “Friendship Tree” is a long-held Rotary tradition which is done as a sign of unity and friendship between clubs.
The tree at Rotary Park is named in honor of Rotary’s founder Paul Harris who was known for travelling the world in the 1920s and ‘30s, visiting other Rotary International clubs and planting Friendship Trees.
The tree recently received a rededication by the City of Las Vegas, with a new plaque placed at its base, commemorating the collaboration of the three clubs in its planting.
“No one in our club really remembers the Moapa Valley club’s participation in this park,” said Reed Werner. “But it is an honor to be invited to be here with other Rotarians and remember that partnership.”
