When planning for the visit to one’s own club, people get nervous and uncertain. In my case I scheduled my own club official visit here at home FIRST. I just couldn’t wait to kick off my year with friendly faces, those who have supported me on my Rotary journey, because first, I wanted to thank you for helping to foster in me my love for Rotary.
As I look to the year ahead, it’s important for me to share how I arrived here, not only in this place, but in Rotary.
Before there was a four-way test for me there was a similar oath I adopted, though this one goes a little something like this:
On my honor, I will try:
To serve God and my country; to help people at all times; to live by the Girl Scout Law. The law states: I will do my best: to be honest; to be fair to help where I am needed; to be cheerful; to be friendly and considerate; to be a sister to every Girl Scout;
to respect authority; to use resources wisely; to protect and improve the world around me; to show respect for myself and others through my words and actions.
I joined the Girl Scouts as a 7-year-old second grader and learned from strong female role models about all these things, though service and teamwork are two of the things that really stuck with me.
Fast forward nearly 40 years from that young girl who learned all those things to when I first heard about Rotary... I jumped in with both feet and felt like I belonged. I felt I was of value from the very first day. When I heard our 4-way test, I knew I was at home in our club. But there was one other defining moment – what many call their Rotary Moment - that solidified my place in Rotary. In my first week of membership, I volunteered as a team leader for my daughter Kimberly’s JAM (Justice Area Ministry) program through Hoban. Originally, that first morning volunteering with JAM, we were assigned a local food pantry, but with a cancellation, we were reassigned to Rotary Camp… At the end of that first day Kimberly was one of a handful of students who were asked to provide an account of their first day. With all the confidence of a seasoned public speaker, with the joy she had found in helping those with special needs that day, serving these campers, assisting them with meals, swim time, crafts; she spoke affectionately of Kristie, a young woman who I can only recount as someone who thrived with cerebral palsy. I didn’t know at the time this would leave an indelible impression on my child. An impression that would ultimately lead Kimberly first to go on to volunteer over a thousand hours at Rotary Camp during her remaining high school years to finding her life’s calling, becoming a special education teacher, and now embarking on her third year as a third and fourth grade intervention specialist at Monclova Primary school in northwest Ohio. To see this transformation…all because of Rotary…”
Julie went on to ask us “What is your Rotary Moment? Haven’t found it yet? You will.”
Julie concluded her presentation with the following: “Over the course of this year, I have named empowering women and girls, the environment, and mental health as my 3 top areas of interest and I encourage you to find a project in these areas for the our club.”
