What is Rotary?

 

I get asked this all the time and you probably do as well.  Do you have an answer?  It may be different for each of us but each of us should have an answer.

 

The answer may be referred to as our “Elevator Speech”.

 

Imagine you enter an elevator and are wearing your Rotary pin. One of your fellow passengers asked what the pin is or what Rotary is……you have a very limited amount of time to answer….be ready.

 

How do you respond?

 

 

 

 

 

However you respond be sure you can make an impression before your fellow traveler arrives at their floor and disembarks.

 

You will probably want to mention that we have over 1.2 million members worldwide.  We’re in nearly every country on earth.  There are over 35,000 clubs. We are both men and women.

 

 

Our #1 project for the past 30+ years has been to eliminate Polio from the face of the earth.  30+ years ago there were nearly 1000 new cases each day and thus far this year we’ve seen only 5. The only other disease ever eradicated from our world was small pox.  There have been no new cases in the USA since 1979.  Older Americans remember the polio epidemics and quarantines.

 

We in Rotary have 6 areas of focus and each club works within those areas and some choose to direct their efforts to one or two instead of all.

 

          ·   Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.

          ·   Disease prevention and treatment.

          ·   Water and sanitation.

          ·   Maternal and child health.

          ·   Basic education and literacy.

          ·   Economic and community development.

 

Locally we have dictionary projects, reading programs, community betterment projects, whatever our area needs.  (ADD THOSE PROJECTS THAT YOU CLUB HAS DONE OR IS DOING). 

 

Know what your club is doing.  Know what your club has done.  If you don’t know what has transpired in the past, ask members who have been around a while.  You may be surprised yourself of all the YOUR Rotary club has done.  Be proud.  Your community wouldn’t be the same without your Rotary club.

 

Do you have an elevator speech? 

 

You should.  Please think about it and create one.  There are hundreds of answers.  Find one that you are comfortable with, practice it and be ready.

 

We’ve been around for 112 years and have made an impact in our communities and around the world.  Let’s let people know.

 

By the way, wear your Rotary pin.  If you have lost it ask your president for another one.  If he or she doesn’t have one ask me, I’ll find one for you.

 

Jim Nelson

PDG 2015-16

Rockford