Happy Ending to a Long Story

for the Rotary Foundation this year.  $26.50 was the sum of the first donation to the new Rotary Foundation many years ago. She was challenging all the clubs in the district in the same way.  She named this district initiative the "Bobby Project" for funds to be used by Rotary International for the children of poverty worldwide. So, our challenge was to raise $3,366.

We announced the challenge to the club in October by way of emails to members, through our club newsletter and through announcements from the podium at meetings.  Had every member responded immediately to the call with a check for just $26.50, we would have met our challenge by November.  That didn't happen, so there's more to the story.

By the end of calendar year 2008, we had raised some $1,300.  We suspended our appeal to focus our time and energy on raising funds and organizing for our Wayne Homes Chili Open in February.  Following our successful Chili Open, we again appealed to the members and raised an additional $1,400.  Now we were so close to achieving our goal.short by just about a little less than $700.  Could we do it?  One more time.  We again appealed to the members, announcing how close we were to the finish line, and saying (no kidding this time.) April 21 would be the deadline for contributions.  And, we made it!

It's how we made it that makes for such a happy ending to this very long story of six months.  At our second Alternate Rotary Club Meeting at Bricco on April 15, I announced to the 22 members and guests present that we were within $400 of meeting our challenge.  A young woman guest at the meeting immediately raised her hand and said, "I'll do it.I'll donate the $400."  Applause erupted, great excitement!

This long story with a very happy ending teaches us some things about our club and fundraising.  While it would seem simple for the club to meet its challenge much earlier, by each member contributing $13.25 per month for two months, that's not how we give.  We give as we are moved to give.  Some of us give immediately upon hearing the first call; some wait to see the results of the first call and then decide whether or not to give; some give when meeting the challenge is within reach. No one ever seems perturbed by the repeated appeals.  Money was raised with each appeal. And, in the end, a non-Rotarian who believes in the good Rotary International is doing through its foundation, gave the biggest donation of all.

Governor Bayless will be at our Rotary meeting on May 19 to accept our challenge- meeting check during the business part of our program.  Please attend and witness the transfer of your donations to Rotary International.  Thank you all for your donations.  We did it!

Yours in Rotary,

Dick