Club Supports Harris Home Resolution

The Rotary Club of Killeen Heights, by unanimous vote, approved a resolution requesting the Rotary International Bard of Directors consider establishing an assessment for the preservation of the Paul Harris home, "Comely Bank."

The Resolution read:

Whereas , Paul Harris lived in their home, Comely Bank, from 1912 to 1947 and Comely Bank became the first true international meeting place for those who went on to organize Rotary International;

Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã'  Ã' "Comely Bank" is located in the Beverly Historic District of Chicago, Illinois and is now owned by the Paul and Jean Harris' Home Foundation, an approvedÃ'  IRS 501(c)(3) foundation and is duly chartered as a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of Illinois;

Ã' 

Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã'  the mission of the Paul and Jean Harris' Home Foundation is to renovate and restore the house, making it available to all Rotarians, and a repository for all RI Past Presidents' papers and memorabilia for future generations to learn about the history of Rotary;

Ã' 

Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Naperville Charities affiliated with the Rotary Club of Naperville, Illinois, loaned $500,000 to the Paul and Jean Harris' Home Foundation on May 16, 2005, secured by a mortgage interest in the property;

Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' 

Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' Ã' donations to pay off the mortgage and to complete the restorations have diminished because of the world- wide economic crisis, and Comely Bank has not been able to be used since 2006 because of the state of repair needed to restore the house to a safe and useful building are stalled;

Ã' 

Ã' 

1. All members of Rotary International be assessed US$0.50 for two years; and

Ã' 

2. The Paul and Jean Harris' Home Foundation transfer owner ship of Comely Bank to Rotary International for US$1.00 and Rotary International would become the owner of "Comely Bank" for the two years during which the assessment funds collected; and

Ã' 

3. During that two years the Rotary International Board of Directors would work with the Paul and Jean Harris' Home Foundation to complete the restoration of "Comely Bank," and establish it as the RI Past Presidents archive; and

Ã' 

4. At the end of the two-year collection and restoration period, Rotary International wouldÃ'  transfer ownership of "Comely Bank" back to the Paul and Jean Harris Home Foundation for US$1.00; and

Ã' 

5. That Rotary International District 5870 takes any and all necessary actions to forward thisÃ' Ã' Ã' Ã'  resolution to the RI Board of Directors for consideration.

Ã' 

UPDATE: January 2009: THe resolution did not pass at the District level.

Ã'