Rotary Symbols and Connections

  Rotary Symbols and Connections

                               Past President Linda Balzer

                               August 8, 2012

 

 

When George and Linda Balzer are travelling around the world and Geroge says to Linda.."I am not sure if I should tell you this or not..."  it usually means another great Rotary connection is about to happen!  And Linda's presentation today was all about how to make those connections happen when you are away from home.  Her two suggestions:

 

  1) do makeups..there are Clubs from Atlanta to Zurich  (check out the Club locator on the RI

      website).  You will be welcomed, make new friends, and you will find out what other Clubs 

      are doing in their communities.

 

  2) wear your Rotary symbols..a shirt, a hat, your pin..will identify you, anywhere in the world

      to other Rotarians. You never know where that introduction will lead.

 

Linda told us about two of her own real life stories of how this works.  The first story was the baseball game in San Diego where George spotted a Rotary hat in the row behind them.  He uttered  the famous phrase..."I dont know if I should tell you this or not" and Linda turned around and introduced herself to Rotarians who came from Spruce Grove, Alberta. That couple ended up taking Linda and George on a day trip to a project at an Elementary School in Tijuana, Mexico. The school's needs were obvious and they pitched in to help build a retaining wall.  The new found Rotary friends ended up being guest for two nights at the Balzers.  All Rotarians share common values and are potential friends and partners in good works!

 

The second story comes from a bit farther away.  The Balzers and the Carters were on a South American cruise and were visiting the town of Punta Arenas in Argentina.  In a market..another Rotary hat brought Rotarians together again!  George (pretty vigilent for the spouse of a Rotarian...full marks to George..said those words again and pretty soon a local Rotarian had taken four total strangers under his wing.  They were all off to his office..saw the 4 Way Test on his wall..banners were exchanged and followed up with a tour of the City and lunch at the Rotarian's Club.  The  new Agentinian friend took the time to go home and dress up ... in honour of the Rotary connection and then took our travellers to his country home where they meet his family before he dropped them all back to their ship. Something tells me that Linda, George, Gayle and Bob had the best shore trip of any one that left that boat that day.

 

Our Rotary wheel is recognized around the world..in many countries it brings far more recognition than it does here.  Club members may not know this, but in Port Loyola, Belize..there are a couple of "wheels" with connections to our own Club.  Linda and George love Belize and have found ways to visit this beautiful place and leave it a bit better for their visits.  After attending a makeup meeting, they discovered a need for help with a local Library project.  From this meeting, later sprang a visit from the Balzers, the  Carters and Ron Baker.  In the tropical heat they sorted mountains of stored books and helped build a cement retaining wall.  In the evenings they enjoyed  the company of their fellow Rotarians over dinner.  In the months that followed that visit, our Club also sent a Container to Belize.

 

The other place that you will find the signage of our Club is a newly built home for a single mother and her 7 children. This family now has water, toilet facilities, a bedroom for the girls and a bedroom for the boys..and their house no longer sits in a mosquito infested pool. Besides helping to pour gravel (arranged for by a local Rotarian) for the new foundation, Linda and George quietly made this project possible through their own personal financial support.

 

If you ever visit that house..the sign will not read "Mr and Ms George and Linda Balzer"..it will read the "Rotary Club of Port Moody" and you will see the Wheel..a symbol of good people making good things happpen..a symbol with recognition value around the world.  Linda is right..we should all wear it with pride and with the knowledge that you will be identifying yourself to other Rotarians..where ever your travels may take you.

 

Linda told us two other stories of how Rotary makes a difference in Belize..the local Club has taken over the running of  the local prison and  do their best to offer some dignity and hope to prisoners...Linda told us about one person who has been held for 6 years with no trial.  These are people with nothing, not even freedom, but when Linda and George took a tour, the prisoners gave them what gift they could..they sang their national anthem for them. 

 

 Linda has also gotten to know a local Rotarian who is the GM at a local Radisson Hotel.  This man started to run Triathalons to raise money for a local orphanage and decided he could raise $50,000 asking people not just to give..but to "give up" something to help support the kids who lived there.  For example..if a person bought a coffee every day and it cost $2 a day..could they give it up for 1 week and donate the $14 instead? Pretty creative thinking.

 

Not every Rotary connection will result in a new service project..but every Rotary connection opens a door.  I will think of that every time I put on my Rotary pin.

 

And dont forget to send Secretary Alan an email with the details of your make ups. Rotary values our attendance.  If you are planning a trip, we have Club banners stored at the Pub and it si good Rotary etiquette to offer one to the Club you visit.  Take a moment one morning to look at the banners our members have brought back to us..those banners each tell a story of one of our members travels and the Rotary connection they made.