By Roger Bjoroy-Karlsen, roger@bjoroy-karlsen.com
The warm January midday sun shines over the mowed lawns and the cream-colored houses in the Keyhole Bay community in the hills overlooking West Bay on the island of Roatan. Local children play somewhere in the jungle, just outside the surrounding concrete wall. A frigate bird sails on the breeze over the ocean.
Our club's Foundation chair, Earl Harcrow, is brewing Honduran coffee labeled "Cafe Miramundo". A coffee that is new to me.
"You can buy it at Roatan Provisions," referring to the shop down by the waterfront in the village of Coxen Hole.
"Sugar and milk?"
I choose the latter and enjoy the tasty coffee as I prepare my notebook and push "start" on my recorder. I am here to figure out why and how a sixty-nine-year-old Texas lawyer is a Rotarian and situated on an island in the Caribbean. And how he got here.
Edward Earl Harcrow was born in a small town in New Mexico. After living in Roswell, the "Alien Capital of The World," the family went abroad for some years because his father's work required a presence in strategic places worldwide. Turkey was one of them, co-located with the US military base in Izmir. Earl became familiar with people from different cultures there and learned about humanity, diversity, and inclusion early in life.
"I guess that's why I joined Rotary, seeing different sides of the world, especially in Turkey, a country with many contradictions between religious groupings. Living in this environment without knowing the language and culture strengthened and shaped me into the person I am today."
He makes sure to refill the black drink brewed from beans grown in the highlands of western Honduras before we carry on. His focus quickly returns in time as he continues telling his life path.
Finally, back in the USA after years abroad, he followed his late father's dream for him and became a lawyer. After practicing for 43 years, he has now downsized his law business to have a few small projects.
"But I have never defined myself as a lawyer, more a person interested in learning and helping people."
Despite coming from the inland USA, he has always been fascinated by the ocean and dreamt of owning a boat. So in 2016, after being a frequent visitor to the Bay Islands since 2002, he and his wife Julie moved to Roatan, and Earl made his dream come true. They now live full-time on Roatan, running his private charter boat business, offering trips on his yacht, Hokah Hey, to enjoy fishing, snorkeling, or a guided tour in the historic and spectacular landscape on and around the largest of the Bay Islands. All this in conjunction with great food and drinks and a crew that ensures you are safe and comfortable.
After a year in a Rotary Club as a young man in 1979-1980, he became a member of the Rotary Club of Arlington, Texas in 2008. He was also an honorary member of our neighbor club, The Rotary Club of Roatan before becoming a founding member of the Rotary Club of Roatan Utila Guanaja (RUG)
In 2023, he decided to be a part of the formation of RUG as he sees himself as a man of action and likes to engage in hands-on projects, the type that let him be out in the field and make things happen.
"I like the concept of Rotary because there are different types of clubs. Some are just social clubs. Others focus on networking, whereas some are more hands-on, executing projects of various sizes. It is great to have choices because we all approach the contribution to a better world differently. I prefer RUG’s philosophy of planning, organizing, and executing projects with high energy and great inspiration. The welcoming and inclusive culture, which brings together islanders and expats from all walks of life, is also important to me.
Earl was a great asset in the work for the new club to be chartered, offering his Rotary experience and professional knowledge. As the club's foundation chair, he sets up the systems, establishes protocols and procedures, and requests and processes money for the projects according to Rotary’s protocols. He is now rolling up his sleeves, preparing for the future, and supporting the effort to help those who need it!
He hopes other clubs from around the world will recognize RUG and do fundraising, potentially with some of them visiting us and exchanging knowledge and methods as we do our projects.
After a couple of cups of bold Honduran coffee and an island cookie, I captured the essence of this Rotarian who started life in New Mexico, traveled the world, and now calls Roatan home.