After retiring from the Air force 28 years ago, I was blessed to learn about Rotary…and due to our nomadic life have been additionally blessed to be involved with a total of three clubs now including our current one here in Richland Cen4er, WI:
I learned about Rotary initially from my Episcopalian Pastor (also a cheese head) in Sun City, AZ. Beyond the Packers, we shared some wellness concepts, one of which was Glycemic Indexing (a way of looking at carbohydrates helping us discerning which ones were working for us or against us). He asked if I taught this to others and I replied…yup, to anyone that will listen so he asked if I would speak to his Rotary Club which did eventually happen…after which they asked…do you want to join our Club? Not knowing much about Rotary, I eventually agreed and learned more.. There are many clubs around our country and internationally as well…each club is unique in its own way. This particular club was considered a “Piano Club”…meaning it was an older-aged Club… that met at noon where we enjoyed singing some piano songs. and then basically funded a local high school to do our outreach. Most Club memberships include business people who enjoy networking as well as retired folks with a variety of backgrounds.
Many Rotary Clubs are involved in high school student exchange with foreign countries in the name of facilitating world peace. Another goal has been eradicating Polio worldwide through immunizations. It’s been quite the lengthy process over time, however a worthwhile process since I was aware that one of my Aunts health as affected by having half of her body paralyzed for the majority of her life as well as working with iron-lung patients in the VA Hospital in Madison whose lungs were affected while it was raging in this country/state (OK that dates me a bit…but hard to forget those images and outcomes, I was thankful to be a part financially in hope of it not coming back especially since there are quite a few unimmunized folks these days.
My second Club was in Colorado Springs after our family relocated since James was still active duty. There were several Clubs in that city…so I joined the North Colorado Springs Club (which was closer to our neighborhood). Rotary is the only philanthropic organization with an ethics program called The Four Way Test.
The Four-Way Test is a nonpartisan and nonsectarian ethical guide for Rotarians to use in their personal and professional relationships. The test has been translated into more than 100 languages, and Rotarians often recite it at club meetings:
“Of the things we think, say or do Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Our North Colorado Club worked with the largest High School in Colorado Springs where our twins attended.. Because of how important we knew this ethical concept was to teach young people, we set out to teach each sophomore this important tool and then gifted each student with a Four-Way coin for help to discern what to do when faced with a dilemma and whether they should move forward with a particular action (if all responses were “yes” to these questions…then it was ethical to proceed. This training occurred over 3 full days. and upon graduation.. What a wonderful tool! In fact we got several positive feedbacks from teachers and students (one student shared that had he not received this training…he would have no longer been with us). One just never knows what challenging lives students may be experiencing.
Then another wonderful benefit was when I met a Rotarian from India who was visiting his family for an extended visit on my side of the Springs with whom I got to know quite well since I was able to help him with a ride to our meetings each week. He shared his personal work with water conservation and his Rotary experience where he lived in India…SO many people involved in Rotary work and many other philanthropic organizations are wonderful, open, giving hearts that operate with Rotary’s concept of “Service above Self”. Also,by donating to our Rotary Foundation our monetary gifts are transformed into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
After coming back to my roots, once settled, I joined our Richland County Club here. Our largest mission here is to put on a Holiday light display in one of our largest park called called “Rotary Lights in The Park’ each year from Thanksgiving to New Years where a number of various volunteer groups participate. There is no cost to go through our display, but we do collect donations of non perishable food for our food pantry, funds for our community outreach and increasing and repair our displays…all very much enjoyed and appreciated by our small community each year.
Having had a recent medical emergency followed by hospitalization, I have made a decision to resign as secretary of our Club and as well as my membership.
Realistically our Club’s membership has been challenged (especially since the Covid lockdown) so a decision will be made soon whether to dissolve our club soon or not.
Nevertheless, I will continue to support Rotary through their Foundation and what a a-spiritual blessing this organization has been for me personally. So if you have a chance to become involved locally…I have no doubt our Rotary Lights in the Park will reorganize as necessary so it can continue to be enjoyed and bring much-needed food and resources into our community.
Let’s continue to bring light and love into our world as we are able, Wellness Warriors.