DB Will Pugh_speech to RoC Nov 2, 2015

 

This year Ravi Ravindran challenged us with “Be a Gift to the World”. 

It is a challenge to us, to think big.  I mean, “World” is kinda big.  Think outside of our own club.   Think about our community.

It is a reminder to use what we have, what we can share, to help our community.  

Our talent, we always have that.  

Our treasure, we share what we can. 

Our time.  Our time is so precious, so limited.   And in this Rotary year, we get 366 days.   But we can only make a gift of what we have.  

If that means our gift of time this year is to get to a meeting and spend time with our fellow members, thank you.  Your friendship, your thoughts, are valued, please join when you can.  Don’t stay away because you have not been able to make it here the last 2 weeks, come this week.   Time will change, life will slow down, family demands will change, work commitments will change, and you will be able to share more of your gift of time later.  We are all richer for you still being here because of that.  Thank you.

And if you can spare some of this precious time to help other clubs, would you consider joining a district committee that feeds your passion and interests?  It would be a great help to all of us.  Just talk to me at the end of the evening, or ask your President to forward your interests.

Still, can we all try to do the little things with us that brought you to Rotary in the first place.

Bring a friend to share the comradery you already enjoy.  

Wear your pin every day, just to let the public know of your commitment to serve the community.  Not just on Mondays, but everyday. 

This is your gift to the world.  

 

Well, Rotary International has made 3 major commitments as part of their Strategic Plan for the rest of this decade.

I have always wrestled with an answer whenever someone asked me “What is Rotary?” 

I always seemed to fall into the pat reply of “we are 1.2 million people, we do PolioPlus around the world and we have Youth Exchange programs with about 18 other countries and we do water wells in Uganda, high school scholarships in Kenya, University scholarships in Burlington, and we host Ribfest”.

But it doesn’t answer the question, and I never thought about that until someone shot these 4 questions at me, let’s give it a go together:

In the year you joined Rotary, who was the R.I. President?

In the year…. District Governor?

In the ……… club President?     Who was your sponsor?

Notice how we know more and more the closer we get to our friends and our community?

What is Rotary?  

We are Community leaders, meeting together to exchange ideas and take action.   

We join because of our friends are right here, and a desire to make our community a better place to live.   

We stay because of all the additional friends this organization introduces us to, and because we DO make a difference in the community, not only locally, but around the world.  

And it all starts with our clubs.  And our members.

May I give an example of that?  PolioPlus….. one Rotarian, one passion, one idea, one club….. on and on….

Nov 2, 2015 …. YTD…. 51 cases…. 2 countries, Nigeria done.  1 continent, Africa done.  1 strain, type 2 declared gone Sept 24 

June 20-24, 2018, what a party.

And this started with one Rotarian.   One dream.   One strong club  A gift to the world.  And I am going to come back to this Polio thing

So,  if I can encourage you.

Do get involved with your community and a club service project.  You have a passion?  You have an idea to make this a better place to live?   Talk about it, engage some members, bring it to your committees, take action.  

And if you need help….. call your district people… start with Larry, but the skills are there to lend a hand.  It is what we volunteer for.

Our Foundation, the charity we choose to support, and the charity that funds the global projects that change the world.  

The Foundation that has earned the trust of other charities, such as Bill and Melinda Gates, and the

Government of Canada, who recognize the efficiency of the monies we raise and spend.  

Can we keep our support for the Rotary Foundation in our minds as we consider how we support charities around the world?

The gift you get back from our Foundation, from PolioPlus? 

An organization that knows how to organize resources on a global scale.  And get things done. 

You want clean water?  You want malaria protection?  You want world peace?

Dream big, Imagine what we can do with an organization committed to getting things done.  To be that gift to the world.  That is us.

We joined Rotary to serve our community.   And our community do not necessarily know that there is a “Rotary Club of Oakville”.   But, if they do know, they know that “Rotary” did this or that.  

Imagine Auntie Jo…..

Because our public, our community, see us as one organization.   Which we are.  

It’s One Rotary   7 doors.   Our customers, our public, don’t know there is a Rotary Club of Oakville.  Nor do they care.  Nor should they.  

And, as I mentioned service projects earlier, I would ask every project committee you have to add one person.  

One person, with one job only.  Publicize what we do.  Tell your community about the gift you are delivering to the world.   Imagine the members it will attract.

So, let’s celebrate our individual culture and personalities within our club, but let’s speak to the public as Rotary.

Let’s not be afraid to change and try new things, indeed try 10 new things.  

The one thing we all have to remember is that time thing we started out referring to.  It is a fleeting thing, and never goes backward.  Let’s celebrate the great works we have done, but let’s take the time to understand how this community of ours, this world of ours, operates in this year.  And let’s not be afraid to change things to meet the needs of our communities, our members, in this year, 2015

So, there ya go.   We all joined Rotary because someone, a friend, invited us.  We all tend to stay here because of the friendships, and because we know we make a difference.  In our community, in our world.  

Community Leaders, meeting together, to exchange ideas and take action.    Dream big.   Chase a passion.   Get the support of your club.  Let’s change the world. Again.

Thanks