A Rose among Rotarians

The geographic location never made a difference. Larry Rose always used his energy, talent and influence in the “Service above self” mode.

And his geographic connections, managing mega-malls, sometimes as large as one million square feet, ranged through Buffalo, NY; Dayton, OH; Orlando, FL; Niagara Falls, NY; Lockport, NY; West Seneca, NY; and San Juan, PR.

Larry’s more direct service to Rotary began in the mid 1980’s in Lockport. It was frequent that Rotary clubs used Larry-managed malls as fund raising or community service sites.

In addition, Larry has served in club-level to district-level leadership roles. For example, four years as Community Service chairperson and chairperson of the 2000 District Conference.

Recently, Rotary International has been putting emphasis on ‘the family of Rotary.’ Well, Kathy and Larry Rose were well ahead of the recent push. They participated in a Rotary Friendship Exchange in 1995. Seven Rotarians went to Japan. In return, ten Japanese Rotarians visited here. Have Larry tell you the story about arriving in the dark of night, no one to greet them, no one speaking English and nevertheless finding their way to the home of their host.

Speaking of family, Kathy and Larry have six children and nine grandchildren. Many of us have met some of the grandkids at the bowl-a-thons.

When asked about, “what to keep, change and stop” in Rotary, after a brief pause to consider his experience and apply wisdom, he responded: keep the structure of the rotation of officers through the leadership roles because it provides for growth, training, understanding, mentoring and the infusion of new ideas; change should include a reasoned look at and modification of the attendance requirement; and regarding what to stop, without any hesitation, Larry responded, “…singing.”

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