March 2nd Address by PP Jennison
President Michael, Fellow Rotarians and Guests,
President Michael has asked me to speak about “ What it means to me to be a member of an Organization that is 106 years strong”.
For me, being a member of an organization that is 106 years strong has shown that the services we, as Rotarians, provide to our community; how as individuals, we can be inspired to do great good for others and without realizing it, inspire others to join Rotary and help make the world a better place through the various avenues of service.
Take for example the story of Kenney De Camp, how we inspired him to become a Rotarian. In 1993, 1994 and 1995, the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Central, brought a Carnival from Chicago to Grand Cayman for a month during the Christmas holidays as a fund raising project. One of the participants of the Carnival was a Mime by the name of Kenney De camp. He was not a Rotarian at that time. In fact, he attended his first Rotary meeting in Cayman.
For the club the Carnival was a successful Fundraiser, but for Kenney, what impressed him the most was to see Rotarians at work serving the community. He saw Rotarians bringing families together to enjoy the carnival rides and games. He saw it as a great service to the Community.
When the Carnival returned to Chicago, Kenney seized the first opportunity to join a Rotary Club. The following year, when the Carnival returned to Cayman, Kenney was now a Rotarian and being familiar of the four avenues of service and the Rotary Foundation, brought a proposal for a Matching Grant between the Rotary Clubs of Grand Cayman Central, Rotary Club of Dundee, Illinois and the Rotary Club of St. Andrew North, Kingston Jamaica. With a Matching Grant from the Rotary Foundation, US$25,000.00 was raised, which was used to purchase medical supplies for the residents of Missionary of the Poor in Kingston, Jamaica. Through a friend, who had a private jet, Kenney had the medical supplies flown to Kingston from Chicago, Illinois. Kenney continues to do a lot of International and Community Service through his Rotary Club.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE VALUE OF THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE AS ROTARIANS AND ITS IMPACT ON OTHERS.
I mentioned Kenney De Camp from Chicago, now I would like to mention two members of our club and how they have made a difference in the lives of others.
Rotarian Bert Thacker, who, as most of you are aware, has for a number of years taken time off from his dental practice to take members of his staff and members of our Rotary Club to Peru to provide dental services to natives in the mountains of Peru. These Peruvians might have never had dental treatment except for the services provided by Rotarian Bert and his crew.
Then there is Rotarian Pat Seward, who went to India early last year to distribute Polio Vaccine to children over there. In the latter part of the year she went to Thailand and spent three months teaching orphans over in Thailand.
Most of our other members of this club do make a difference in the lives of others in Cayman. Just think of our Literacy Programs.
For me it is a great privilege and an honor to be a member of this 106 years strong organization to be able to help change lives through Community, International and Vocational Service.
Thank you!