Courtesy, Respect, Self-Control, Perseverance, and an Indomitable Spirit
Caryn Adams
My eleven-year-old son, Dexter, is preparing to take his black belt test in Taekwondo. There is a written test, an interview, a physical endurance test, several independent exercises, a letter to his parents, an essay, and finally a test of martial arts technique. Through it all, he’s meant to reflect on the values of courtesy, respect, self-control, perseverance, and an indomitable spirit. What an appropriate meditation that is for us, as Americans and as Rotarians, as we head into this Memorial Day weekend.
We honor the service of the men and women who believed the idea of this Country and our shared ideals was something worth the risk of dying, the risk of coming home less than whole, the risk of deep personal losses. In the words of Wayne B. Arnason, “Those who have not served cannot fully imagine the experience of war, but we do know war’s aftermath and the roll that it can take on the human heart. This day remembers and acknowledges loss, and so do we remember those whom we have loved and lost. We hold their names and their faces in our mind’s eye. We recall the first they gave to us through the strength of their being, the depth of their love, the courage of their dying, and the fullness of their living.”
This time of quarantine with the attendant anxieties about passing a potentially deadly disease to those we love coupled with deep economic uncertainty is testing all of us. May we also exhibit self-control and persevere with an indomitable spirit. May we not lose sight of the values to which we have dedicated our lives. In our uncertainty, may we not forget that those who put “service above self” have work to do for the benefit of others.
Theme: I can think of no better theme for our Zoom meeting this week than one of appreciation to our Armed Services. Wear your service-related gear with pride or don something red, white, and blue.
Photo challenge reminder: I want at least 10 more pictures of Rotarians picking up trash in their neighborhoods and in our parks before Tuesday. Keep them coming. The Rotarians of The Gasper Law Group teamed up to fill four trash bags collected along the Greenway downtown (see FaceBook). Carol Bach and her dog were a fine-looking team this week. Dr. Ernesto and Jim Mundt are heading out together tomorrow. Who else is making our city beautiful and trash-free with us?
Recapping my 3 weeks in NYC as a nurse during Covid-19 outbreak
Christine is a RN in Colorado Springs and agreed to work for three weeks in NYC at the Billie Jean King Center which was transformed into an emergency hospital supporting Covid-19. She was in NYC for three weeks, 7-days a week 12-hours a day. Christine's team included one of the top infectious desease specialists in the Country. Her stories on her experience are fascinating.
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
Rotary International's Structured Programs for Youth Service are: Interact, Rotaract , Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Youth Exchange . The month of May is designated as “Youth Service Month” to focus on all Rotary activities that support the development of young people up to the age of 30.
* Rotaract clubs bring together people ages 18-30 to exchange ideas with leaders in the community, develop leadership and professional skills, and have fun through service.
* Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills and learn about the world through service projects and activities.
* RYLA is a leadership development program for young people who want to learn new skills, build their confidence, and have fun. Events range from one-day seminars to weeklong camps.
* Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time. Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries.
* New Generations Service Exchange is a short-term, customizable program for university students and professionals up to age 30. Participants can design exchanges that combine their professional goals with a humanitarian project.
1775: North Carolina becomes the first colony to declare its independence.
1792: Two dozen merchants and brokers established the New York Stock Exchange. In good weather they operated under a buttonwood tree on Wall Street. In bad weather they moved inside to a coffeehouse to conduct business.
1862: President Abraham Lincoln signs the Homestead Act, providing 250 million acres of free land to settlers in the West.
1874: Levi Strauss begins marketing blue jeans with copper rivets.
1881: The American Red Cross was founded by Clara Barton. The organization today provides volunteer disaster relief in the U.S. and abroad. Community services include collecting and distributing donated blood, and teaching health and safety classes.
1927 : Charles Lindbergh, a 25-year-old aviator, took off at 7:52 a.m. from Roosevelt Field, Long Island, in the Spirit of St. Louis attempting to win a $25,000 prize for the first solo nonstop flight between New York City and Paris. Thirty-three hours later, after a 3,600 mile journey, he landed at Le Bourget, Paris, earning the nickname "Lucky Lindy" and becoming an instant worldwide hero.
1939: Pan American Airways starts the first regular passenger service across the Atlantic.
1980: Mount St. Helens volcano erupted in southwestern Washington State spewing steam and ash over 11 miles into the sky. This was the first major eruption since 1857.
