“To me success means effectiveness in the world, that I am able to carry my ideas and values into the world – that I am able to change it in positive ways.”
This is how Maxine Hong Kingston, a Chinese American author, views the importance of personal contributions to society. Her quote was my central theme when I spoke at a Rotary dinner last week. The occasion was my installation as president of Wilmington West Rotary Club, both an honor and a challenge.
Kingston’s words define the vision that lies at the heart of Rotary. Still, many people envision these clubs as groups of middle-aged “good old boys” chewing the fat over weekly lunches and maybe closing a business deal or two. This is not so.
One of my goals for 2010-11 is to raise community awareness about the real Rotary – and I can’t think of a better way to launch the campaign than blogging about it. So, consider this a crash course on who we are and what we do. The scope of it may surprise you.
Rotary began in Chicago in 1905. A non-political, non-religious international organization of men and women, their mission is to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Clubs are open to all creeds, cultures and races. Today, Rotary operates in more than 160 countries worldwide, with approximately 1.2 million men and women belonging to 30,000-plus clubs.
Key projects focus on at-risk youth, disabled persons, health/education initiatives and environmental concerns, to name a few. On a global level, Rotarians also are wiping out polio, providing clean water and striving to build international peace and good will.
I believe all the good Rotary does collectively starts with individual clubs like Wilmington West, made up of busy people who simply want to make their community – and the world – just a bit better.
The internationally acclaimed Full Belly Project, which designs and distributes income-generating agricultural devices in developing countries, started with seed money from Wilmington West. We endow scholarships at the University North Carolina Wilmington and Cape Fear Community College. We also provide financial and hands-on support for the Boys and Girls Homes of North Carolina, Wilmington Family YMCA, Carousel Center, Communities in Schools and other life-changing programs.
Proud as I am of all Wilmington West gets done, we’re not the only game in town. A total of six clubs in the city and 48 across our district are devoted to Rotary’s mission.
As for me, my first board meeting as president comes up in a couple days. And I can’t wait to get started.
