Rotary Foundation Opportunities and Value
Our speaker, Brenda Cressey is a member of the RC of Paso Robles, past District 5240 Governor; she serves in a number of leadership roles at all levels of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation, including keynote speaker at the 2009 RI Assembly, served as a President's Representative several times at District Conferences around the world; three year term as RI Regional Membership Coordinator and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator. She is a recipient of the RI "Service Above Self Award" and the RF "Citation of Meritorious Service Award"; her dream is to see the end of polio. She and her husband, Dick, are multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors and Level II Bequest Society members.
Brenda began her talk on The Rotary Foundation by referencing comments made just last year at the Birmingham Rotary International Convention in a speech given by incoming RI President John Kenny. He said, "When a club is formed of people who are honest, who are ethical, who enjoy each other's company and take pleasure in shared accomplishment for the good of all - that is a Rotary club as Paul Harris envisioned it. And that is a club that makes all of Rotary stronger."
Brenda's passion for the foundation was clear and she asked each of us how we could ever doubt the power of Rotary and the power we have at our hands with the help of our Rotary Foundation. Then she asked each of us to help preserve the integrity of our foundation. She said this will happen with our ongoing commitment and continued support each and every year, especially in these tough times when support is needed most!
Brenda said, "I don't know about you, but at the beginning of every Rotary year when I make my personal contribution to the Rotary Foundation, I never once think about what will come back to me or what will come back to my district! Instead, I think of the incredibly life-changing stories and they provide me with a sense of comfort and remind me of how fortunate I am to be a part of this great organization - a place where my gift to the world is all the pay back I need - it makes me feel peaceful and very happy!"
She talked about the importance of the Permanent Fund, the Foundation's endowment that ensures that Rotary and its good work will continue on long after we are gone. She encourage each of us to consider leaving our personal legacy by becoming a benefactor; or to create a simple bequest to the Rotary Foundation. A very good friend of hers said it well when he stated, "When I give to the Rotary Foundation's permanent fund, it stays with the foundation forever and thus it makes me a Rotarian forever!"
"Service," Brenda said, "is the cornerstone for our membership in Rotary and the Rotary Foundation is truly the lifeblood of this great organization."