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By Chieftain photo/file
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Rotary 43 aids NYC Rotary, Sept. 11 victims
By KAREN VIGIL
The Pueblo Chieftain
Jack Selway thought he had hit on a good idea 14 months ago when he convinced local Pueblo Rotary 43 leaders to set up a Web site linking the 50 oldest of the 30,000 existing Rotary clubs.
What Selway couldn't have known is what an important part his Rotary Web site would play in helping New York Rotarians and the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
He is the Webmaster of the site that, by Sept. 11, had grown to 100 Rotary clubs.
It made sense that the Rotary Club of New York turned to Selway to assist them with answering several hundred letters and e-mails.
The Web site network is credited with raising some $1.4 million for the New York club's disaster fund. Of that, Rotary 43 (the 43rd oldest) contributed $1,500.
The fund will be used to aid victims who are not covered by insurance, large agencies or companies.
Helen Reisler, president of the New York club, thanked Rotary 43 for its assistance, noting that "Jack Selway is a special person of whom Pueblo can be proud.”
In recognition of Rotary 43's support, the Rotary Global History Web site board presented two of the club's leaders with its "1905 Coin Award”: Police Chief Jim Billings, who was the president last year, and current president Karen Lillie.
Selway also runs the Web sites for the Southern Colorado Rotary district, www.rotary5470.org.