2024 FAVORITES
By Arnie Grahl, blog editor
One of the best things about managing and editing our blog is that I get to read so many great stories from Rotary members. Truly committed to the motto of Service Above Self, these dedicated volunteers put in countless hours to make their communities – and the world – better places. One downside is that so many posts fade into obscurity as other stories come in all year long.
In the spirit of closing out 2024, and to give a little more love to some of these fantastic stories, I asked my colleagues to select their favorite posts of the year. Coincidentally, most of these also got the most views. Here is the resulting compilation of our five favorite blog posts:
Rockin’ Rotaract in Bangladesh
Saddam Hossain Roni organized a huge charity concert in Dhaka City with members of the Rotaract Club of Dhaka Orchid. It introduced Rotaract to 12,000 enthusiastic fans of Bangladeshi rock. (While technically first posted in November 2023, it received most of its views this year.)
Like mother, like daughter
Sabrina Barreto has been immersed in Rotary Youth Exchange since she was a child. Her mother, Emanuelle, began hosting exchange students when Sabrina was a year old. It was only natural for Sabrina to take part in her own short- and long-term exchanges when she reached her teens. Both mother and daughter are still involved in the program and are truly Youth Exchange superstars.
More than skin deep
This story of hope, healing, and unity takes the concept of “life-changing” to the next level. Rajeev Bhalla shares a simple idea that the Rotary Club of Ranipur, Uttar Pradesh, India, developed to help people with burn scars. Changing Faces to Change Lives goes beyond medical procedures to provide emotional healing, counseling, and support.
3 magical steps to grow membership
The Rotary Club of Seoul-Hansoo, Korea, grew from 100 members to 433 in January of this year. How did they do it? Rotary Foundation Trustee Chun-Wook Hyun shared their secrets in this post from February.
A new talent and a new mission
George Lewis combines a newfound talent with his desire to do good in the world. After retiring as a stockbroker, he enrolled in an adult education oil painting class and got hooked. After teaching himself to paint with only a palette knife – no brushes – he’s created 800 pet portraits to raise money for cleft-lip surgeries.
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