November President's Message
November is without a doubt my favorite time of year. Halloween just ended, college football is really heating up (I cannot believe Clemson lost to Georgia Tech) and the holidays are upon us!
Having young children, Halloween is always a trip for me. I love watching children try to be someone else and live through the eyes of the character they choose to emulate. This year my oldest daughter Alex wanted to be the Scooby Doo character, Velma (she was the smart one). I could not figure out why Alex chose Velma with all of the options she had, including the most beautiful Disney princesses, until each and every time she would put on that costume, she acted older, smarter and like she had all the answers to all the questions (and especially the solutions to all of the mysteries).
It seemed that my oldest wanted what most of us want (at least us Rotarians) to be smart, ingenious and helpful. You are probably beginning to get the idea that this Halloween was a very proud moment for deal ol’ dad, and if so, you are right.
And that proud feeling I have toward my daughter Alex is the same proud feeling I have toward Rotary. It always amazes me that 1.2 million people from different places, vocations, cultures and beliefs, all simply want to be smart, ingenious and help other human beings with their problems. Come to think of it, it’s really too bad we don’t dress up, it would probably be one heck of a party.
Interestingly enough, for years, I have had people ask me what Rotary is?, what Rotarians do?, and is Rotary relevant in today’s society?
If the results of our “Tell the Story: Protect the Legacy” theme of our Club is any indication, the answer is an unqualified yes. As of November 1, we will have inducted 15 new members, and our year is not even half over yet. Each and every time we tell our club’s story, we find others who want to be a material part of what we are doing. We have not had one disappointment yet.
So, yes! People do care! People do want to give back! And more than ever, people do want to know and affiliate with other people that share the same ideals! And, so it seems, Rotary is as relevant today than at any other time in our club’s 98 year history. We simply have to do a better job of telling our story.
So as the holidays approach and we officially enter into office party season, please take a few minutes and share our story with some of your other friends and family, you may just find some new Rotarians.
Mark
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