When I first joined Rotary, and looked at the  members in the room, I thought they had great potential to serve our community.  The more I learned about Rotary, I began to see all the great things they were doing in our community, as well as around the world.  This group was working to end polio in the world, provide clean drinking water in Africa, and helping numerous organizations in Escondido.  Wow, this was a special organization I just joined.   These were ordinary folks that were making an extraordinary impact in their own communities, and I was part of that team.
 
The first Rotary project was constructing a public restrooms in downtown Chicago, in the early 1900’s.  Since then, service to others has been the focus of Rotary over the past 100 plus years.  All Rotarian’s should be involved in some type of service effort that impacts the lives of others in a positive way.  We don’t always see the end results of our efforts.  Books we provide to a school library, may help a child learn to read.  A box we pack for our troops overseas, can provide a better day to a young Marine.  The candy we included might be given to a child in a war torn country, where small joys are too often not part of their daily lives.  It’s just what Rotarian’s do. 
 
To all of you that serve others, Thank You!  I’m proud to stand with you.  If you are not involved with the service Rotary does, then you are missing the point of being a Rotarian.  Don’t just come to Rotary, be a Rotarian!
 
Cheers!