A few weeks back Ava and I attended the Cedar Creek Lake Celebrity Waiter Dinner during which a former Rotary Exchange Student spoke. He had previously also attended RYLA and was completely connected to Rotary after that first experience and much more so later. He was quite erudite, but from his comments, was not always. Rotary gave him life changing opportunities and redirected his goals.The Rotary Foundation also changes lives and gives opportunities to us to be the change we seek. The former RYLA Student only presented an example as do children living longer and more productive lives in Guatemala, and Mexico and the people of Mexico who now experience mobility through their wheelchairs provided, fitted, and maintained through Rotary along with numerous other project grants you as Rotarians have orchestrated for people you never met and will likely never know.
All that takes me back to a motivational talk a few days ago: “Our beliefs are worthless if they do not first change our lives also.”
IPDG Karen Maines had an awesome year due to all of you who helped; but knowing what we can accomplish, can we now convince everyone in Rotary 5830 to chip in and help? Not only monetarily to The Rotary Foundation, though it would be great to have everyone as a member of the Paul Harris Society and PolioPlus Society, but also chipping in with their time, and talent as well as treasure.
Together we will make a difference and show others the Magic of Rotary!
PDG & DRFC Jack Welge
