My Farewell to Rotary.
September 2018
Dear Jeff:
As you know, for about half a century, the Rotary Club of Ventura-East (after a couple of years in Downtown Ventura) was a high- priority activity in my regular life. In addition, I remember my visits to other countries.
Several visits were to the Rotary Club in Tijuana. We used to take them our collection of medication samples and medical supplies. My hope was that our contributions would be sent to a remote area in Baja California. Actually, I did visit such a remote Rotarian Club project in the mountains in Baja California. Several
Rotary Clubs were contributing to that project.
I especially remember going with the devoted Eric Nicolet to the early and ambitious project which he administered, in the huge and remote area of what, before the Spaniards arrived, used to be the Totonaca Empire - the Empire that sided with the Spanish Empire to conquer the Aztec Empire. I remember that we first visited a Rotary Club in Mexico City, which was the co-sponsoring Club. A member of that club held a high position in Rotary lnternational activities. A small bus that belonged to our Totonaca project, driven by a Totonaca Project employee, took us to our Totonaca project. It was a long drive. Most of the time, we were the only vehicle on the road. There was no evidence of electricity. During that night, after everyone went to bed, it got extremely dark. Literally, I could not see my hand in front of my face.
Still another special memory is of my wife, Jane, and I going to the Rotary lnternational Convention in Japan, the year I was Club President. The number of persons attending was so large that the Convention was held in a stadium, in two sessions, in a city not far from Tokyo. After the Convention, Jane and I took a tour of several countries in Asia, during which we visited several Rotary clubs.
And, of course, I’ve always admired the many ways in which the Rotary Club of Rotary-East has been a positive force in our own community.
I've always been especially inspired by the Rotarian goals and achievements in promoting good will and peace, at all levels-locally; internationally and worldwide.
I have been fortunate enough so that my major problems in physical health have been solved. I take no medication for diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, etc. I try to lead a mentally and physically hygienic life. I still work Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, full time, at my psychiatric clinic in Camarillo, and drive, by myself, both ways. I still do some active gardening, the other days of the week. However, I have to admit that, to a certain extent, Old Age (I am now 97) has significantly lowered my energy level. Therefore, I have been forced to reduce some of my activities. I no longer subscribe to Newsweek or to the Ventura Star. l have not gone to a movie in several years, etc. Regretfully, I have concluded that I should cancel my membership in the Rotary Club. Since you are the current President (and my long-time friend, and in charge of the Club's "Free Press"), I am hereby officially informing you that I am resigning from the Rotary Club. I am enclosing my check, to pay the bill I received a few days ago.
I would like to keep receiving the weekly issue of The Breeze, so as to be able to learn what the members of my Rotarian extended family members are doing.
I am sending you, and all the members of our Club,
AN AFFECTIONATE "GROUP HUG"!!!
Rafael Cantón (a.k.a. Rafa)
cantonjr@sbcglobal.net
