Why I am a Rotarian
by RotaryClub WestLiberty on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 2:31pm
Hugh M. Archer (electrical engineering]. President, Rotary International, 1989-90. Member of the Rotary Club of Dearborn, Michigan, U.S.A. Theme: "Enjoy Rotary!"
From the book Rotary Wisdom, Reflection on Service-Volume 2, Copyright © 1991 and 1998 by Rotary International, Evanston, Illinois
The story is told about young lawyer Abraham Lincoln returning to his overnight quarters after a busy day in a country courthouse. He was driving a horse-drawn buckboard and was accompanied by his opposing counsel. It had rained all day and the muddy road with its mucky side ditches presented a dismal picture. As they rode along, they came upon a sow entrapped in the ditch under a rail fence. Squealing with frustration, she was losing the battle to free herself. Abe drove on a few yards but then stopped the buckboard. He climbed down into the muck, lifted the rail and the sow clambered out of her muddy prison. Back on the buckboard, he resumed their journey. "That was a very unselfish deed, Mr. Lincoln," said his companion. "It was a selfish deed," replied Abe, "Had I not freed the sow, I would have lain awake tonight wondering about her fate!"
So it is with Rotarians. Aware that they have the ability to improve the quality of life of people around them, they know that their personal self esteem and well-being requires that they act. They act for a selfish reason. They receive personal pleasure in being a Rotarian. They want to sleep better at night.
All Rotarians have a broad streak of compassion in their psyche. They like to associate with others similarly endowed. They find that being in Rotary gives them access to others like themselves. The result is a worldwide endeavor interested only in increasing the quality of life. Worldwide . . . yes. But mindful that the '"world" starts right at home and with the neighbor next door.
That's why I am a Rotarian. When somebody has a brighter future because I did something helpful for them, I feel "better." I like to have personal self esteem. I need the respect of my companions and Rotary gives me the opportunity to earn their respect. I want to associate with people whose actions I admire. I like Rotarians and I want to be like them. I want to enjoy life. It helps to be a Rotarian.
Hugh M. Archer
N. Pratt Secrest [pulpwood distributing). Director, Rotary International, 1970-72. Member of the Rotary Club of Thomasville, Georgia, U.S.A.
My introduction to Rotary came at age three when my father was president of the Rotary Club of Athens, Georgia, and I at¬tended a "Fathers and Sons" banquet. My active membership began 20 years later when I was in¬ducted into the world of Rotary at the Rotary Club of Thomasville, Geor¬gia, U.S.A.
It took a few years for me to realize the magnitude of the opportunities available to those fortunate persons who call themselves "Rotarians." 1 began to realize that Rotary is so very much more than just a luncheon club! I came up with my own definition of Rotary:
"FRIENDS WORKING TOGETHER AROUND THE WORLD"
FRIENDS . . . because all we do and are begins with friendship. Friend¬ship which transcends all real and imagined boundaries, drawing us together regardless of race, color, creed, or gender.
WORKING . . . because the Avenues of Service are just that . . . Avenues of SERVICE, providing myriad opportunities to enrich and extend the lives of countless thousands . . . including ourselves!
TOGETHER . . . because I've experienced a strong bond that brings Ro¬tarians together in a synergy unlike any other.
AROUND THE WORLD ... the true internationalism of Rotary grows more exciting every day! Thanks to The Rotary Foundation, World Commu¬nity Service, Youth Exchange and multiple Fellowships, doors are opened and now the whole world is just a telephone call or fax message away from us.
Finally, Rotary is not a destination, it's a DIRECTION! Not a place at which we arrive, but a launching pad to a more useful life! That's Rotary!
N. Pratt Secrest
Tom Duncan Reed {groceries—retail). Director, Rotary International, 1984-86. Member of the Rotary Club of Springfield, Kentucky, U.S.A.
The question, "Why am I a Rotarian?", is entirely different from "Why I belong to Rotary." Like every member who has been in¬vited into membership in our worldwide organization, we all are members of our Rotary club because one person thought enough of us to propose us to membership; and, sad to say, some will go on to be "Rotarians," while others will remain "just members."
In my case, being a Rotarian began quite early in my small rural com¬munity of 3,000 people. It was my feeling about the leaders in this town that made me take so very much pride in the invitation I received to be¬come a member of this small Rotary club. I had always looked up to these business and professional men and had hoped to become a part of Rotary with them.
Then, one day I was invited into the Rotary club secretary's office and he told me about the desires of the local club and that he should sign me up and give me my first bit of Rotary information. This was certainly a day in my life I would never forget. The one great piece of counsel he left me with that day was, "Rotary means sharing." To this day, I have always tried to keep this admonishment close to my membership.
I quickly learned my personal enjoyment and satisfaction of member¬ship was keyed to the amount of involvement in which I engaged each phase of the four Avenues of Service. Each presented in its own way that opportunity of sharing Rotary.
Student Exchange was a very early interest in which our entire family became involved. The students spanned a total of 17 years of living in our home with our seven children, and our oldest daughter became an exchange student and lived with a Rotary family in Managua, Nicaragua.
My Rotary membership gave us many opportunities to involve the fam¬ily in the district conferences, international conventions, international in¬stitutes and assemblies. It's been my pleasure to have attended 20 international conventions in six different countries.
Good fortune allowed me to serve my Rotary district on two occasions as the district governor, which, incidentally, came ten years apart. Then one of the greatest moments of my Rotary life came when I was nomi¬nated to serve on the Rotary International Board of Directors. I will always be grateful for this grand experience.
To attempt to sum up "Why I Am a Rotarian," I would conclude by saying all that I feel and hope for Rotary truly lies in the Object of Rotary. These are the most beautiful and self-explanatory words we will ever read or attempt to serve.
Tom Duncan Reed