Rotary Meeting of 8-16-2012 “The Visit” from the District Governor

Rotary Meeting of 8-16-2012  “The Visit” from the District Governor

The District Governor came to check on the best Rotary Club in the United States World.   OK so I am engaging in some Hyperbole, but we are very good.  Let me explain.

New Paul Harris Fellows:

At this meeting we put our best foot forward bringing out all the guns.  First of all we had some New Paul Harris Fellow Awards to give, and some additional Paul Harris Fellows to others.  Deborah, Shirley, Dean and Laura became Paul Harris Fellow (esses).  Elyse, Kevin, Penny, and Tom added a diamond or a ruby to their status.  Congratulations to you all. 

In other announcements.

Guess what, Julie Warner is “Staying”.  She has been such a great Rotarian over the years and brightens the room when she enters.  It is great to know we will be seeing her for a long time.  She is planning a little “staying in town” celebration.  More on that later.

District Governor’s Visit

Then the District Governor came to the Podium and talked about this year’s new status of “VISIONARY”.  This would be someone who far exceeds the requirements of an ordinary person in the pursuit of goodness and conducts major projects that affect people’s lives forever..  This was reserved for the Super Stars.  We had three that were so designated by the DG.  Jeami, Elyse, and Joe.  Jeami for the work she is doing in Uganda that we all know about.  Second for Elyse and Joe who have done so much and continue to do so much for RYLA.  Everytime they talk about it they “Beam”.   Joe wasn’t there, but Elyse “Beamed” enough for both of them.  All three are labeled “Visionaries”.   

I sat with Dick and we grumbled a bit about how we too were visionaries. Dick does the Roster and I do the bulletins.  But no…no visionary for us.  But we do our tasks with pride and vigor, and perhaps someday we too can be visionaries.

The Governor talked and reminisced about his life in Rotary and all the friends he has met.  He spoke with dignity and class.  Not sure if he had the right club for that, but he spoke from the heart. 

Ignite and ASK were two things the DG stressed in his talk.  It’s all about Membership and we need to do a better job of spreading the word and increasing our membership.

Simply, ASK people to come and visit.

He closed by quoting a poem by anonymous.  I didn’t catch all the words so I googled some of the words and found this one by Mother Theresa.  It is very close to his closing and I close with it now.

Mother Teresa's Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.