My parents taught me if I take on a task to do it the best of my ability. No more than one’s best can be expected. As a young engineering manager, I found myself visiting with a senior executive. When I entered his office, he was in a conversation in Spanish telling and employee the next time he “pulled stunt like that”, he would be unemployed. The stage was set for an interesting conversation and lesson that has stayed with me. The executive spun around in his chair and asked, “Chapman, what have you been doing”. My response, “I’ve been busy”. Promptly he responded, “I don’t pay you to be busy, I pay you accomplish goals”.
We all join a Rotary Club for various reasons. We stay and become an involved Rotarian because some experience touched our hearts and we realized that as a community we make a larger impact than we can as an individual.
A little less than three months remains in this Rotary year. Your clubs have accomplished a lot in your community involvement and service projects. One of the rewards of serving as District Governor is meeting you and learning about the great projects you undertake and how they change lives. Like that senior manager I met many years ago, it’s not about being busy, it is about achieving goals that make a difference and change lives. Rotarians are ambassadors of hope.
Our day-to-day Rotary community is our local club. Central Texas Rotarians are joined in a shared goal to do good and make a difference with 1.2 Million like minded Rotarians in 200 countries. This year I have created a regular conversation and friendship with a Rotarian in Nigeria. Fellowship is important and is part of the glue that bonds relationships with fellow Rotarians.
My family often attended family reunions as a child. It was a fun time to play and visit with cousins we saw only once a year. Even though we would see one another only once a year, there was a bond. We were all part of a larger family clan. Much is the same with Rotary.
In three short weeks we will have our annual Rotary family reunion; our annual Conference of Rotary Clubs (CORC) in San Antonio. My acquaintance with many of you started at a district conference. Over the years, friendships have developed that would not have been possible without my getting involved beyond my club and experiencing Rotary fellowship. Join me and Rotarians from around Central Texas in at our annual Rotary family reunion. Make new friends. Have fun.
This is not a training weekend. It is a weekend to enjoy fun and fellowship. We will spend time on Friday engaged in a RISE Against Hunger Project. Saturday morning there will be engaging programs. PRIP Ron Burton and RIDE Jorita Solari will join us. In the afternoon, enjoy the many attractions of San Antonio and be back by 5:45pm for a private tour of the Alamo followed that evening with engaging stories of Texas history by author James L. Haley. There will be fun games and great prizes.
Hundreds of hours of work by a dedicated team of Rotarians has gone into planning our Rotary family reunion to provide you and outstanding experience. My thanks to each member of the event planning team for sharing their time and talents. It is their gift to fellow Rotarians.
I hope to see you in San Antonio.Jerry Chapman
District Governor, 2018-19