With the tap of a wooden gavel, on an eight inch brass bell, District Governor Marion Stark, like all Rotarians worldwide, is celebrating a century of Rotary service to the world.

About 45 people attended Thursday’s meeting of the Rotary Club of Islip, for a visit by their governor who brought her Centennial Bell.

Governor Marion brings this bell with her when visiting all the 34 Rotary clubs in district 7260, (Suffolk County).

The bell that Governor Marion brings with her signifies a century of service. According to Dr. Gary Rosenfeld, Islip Rotary president, the bell signifies giving back to their communities by business and professional people, called Rotarians. The bell symbolizes a "grid" that shows compassion for the underprivileged, the ill and the disabled, many of whom are the beneficiaries of over 50,000 service projects conducted by Rotary Clubs in the world each year.

For the Rotary community, the bell helps tie Suffolk Rotarians together, as a family, and as a service organization. The bell also signifies unity in the club, the Rotary District, and to 1.2 million other Rotarians in the world. Rotary is established in almost every nation on this planet. The Rotary Club of Islip was formed in 1967, and has fifty members. For information call Robert Nathan, Rotary District 7260, Public Relations Chairman, 631-666-6130.