(The following narrative is a continuation of a series of how a member was introduced to Rotary and subsequent memories. If you would like Rotary to be part of your life's story, please contact Alison Proctor at alisonproctor@gmail.com.)
Alison Proctor
Joined Rotary November 20, 2019
February, 2023
When I was a child, my dad was in a service club and he used to bring my sister and me to community service projects, club meetings and crab feeds. At the time, I didn’t really know the scope of all of his friends and how he knew them, but we always had fun meeting everyone and participating in the activities. He explained to us that when you’re able, you should always give back to the community and our world.
As I got older, I joined the Interact Club in high school. I enjoyed spending my time working on projects to support the needs of my community. I continued into adulthood by joining nonprofit organizations and eventually decided to run for elected office for the San Mateo-Foster City School Board. That is when I subsequently learned about the Rotary Club of Foster City. I attended a few meetings and really enjoyed learning about all of the ways the Rotary Club serves our community and the world. I met kind people and enjoyed spending time at the Crowne Plaza over lunch.
Shortly after I joined, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic and we were forced to go to remote meetings. I was grateful for the short time we had in-person where I was able to make connections and build relationships, but I was even more grateful that we were able to maintain those connections and relationships online during a time of such uncertainty.
Because of the pandemic, my in-person experiences have been somewhat limited, but my best memories so far have been the time I volunteered to distribute food at the Rec Center parking lot, serving snow cones and popcorn at the Summer Concerts, decorating and setting up for the Spaghetti Feed, and collecting used shoes outside of Safeway. These were all local projects where I was able to help serve the community while having a fantastic time with my fellow Rotarians. In addition to these events, I have been serving as the Membership Chair for the past 2 years. I especially enjoy meeting potential members and telling them how wonderful the Rotary Club of Foster City is.
I recently visited Inagi City in Tokyo with several Rotarians and it was a trip of a lifetime. We met the Rotarians from Inagi City, learned about their culture and customs, and made new friendships. A delegation from Inagi City recently visited us and the Rotary Club of Foster City gave them a warm welcome…with delicious food from the cooking crew! I look forward to traveling to other places where I can help communities in need and build relationships while also learning about dissimilar cultures and customs.
Although my current Rotary Story is short, I’m looking forward to continuing with my story and expanding my experiences.