Hello Rotarians,

 

It was a nice to see a lot of members at last week’s meeting. We had the pleasure to host our District Governor, and hear her journey through the years in Rotary. While she was telling her story, I was thinking that it’s not any different from my story or perhaps yours either. Everything starts with a networking meeting over a glass of wine, letting everyone know that you are part of the community, you have a business or belong to a well-known corporation or organization. After a while, you are asked to get involved in different projects or be part of the board of directors, and you dubiously say YES and you are in, you are connected, and then you start to understand the meaning of being a Rotarian. That was most likely what happened to me. I knew about Rotary since my early years when I lived in Panama, never had the opportunity to really know it in my birth place, but I am glad I found it, no matter if it was 2576.18 miles away, but I am here, and the best part is that I said YES. Yes to participating, yes to getting engaged, to be part of the board and the rest is history. Rotarians are leaders, people of action, people that inspire, people who are gifts to the world, and people who make a significant difference in their local and global communities. I invite you to dubiously say YES. Your time, energy, and a passion to improve your world are all you need to get involved with Rotary.

 

This year, I would like to invite all current and new members to STAY CONNECTED.

 

SHARE YOUR IDEAS: Your suggestion could be the new big initiative within the club.

TRY A NEW ROLE: Apply your knowledge, skill and experience in a club leadership role. Just say YES.

VOLUNTEER TO HELP with our community service projects - the backpack program, the food pantry, the Earth Day clean-up day with Friends of Acadia, with Polio Day, the Purple Pinkie Project, organizing the Christmas party and the silent auction, the adventure golf tournament, Interact, the story trail and free library project, and if you know of a need in the community, propose a project that addresses it. I am sure we can make it happen, too.

PARTICIPATE IN TRAINING EVENTS: The district offers training and informational events that are open to all members. I personally have learned more about Rotary and what other clubs in our community are doing attending these training events. It’s very fun, and we can connect with other members in our district area.

PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS: Many clubs partner with clubs in other parts of the world to address a need in one of their communities. Next year, our club is partnering with the Ellsworth club and the Bangor breakfast club to go to Panama and do our second visit in the country with the Wheelchair Project. Together, we will be collaborating with a local club in Panama to deliver 115 wheelchairs to people in need. Members that have participated in the wheelchair project can tell you how rewarding is to see the faces of all those people and their families when you give them a wheelchair, a chair that for them means the world, means independence, means a smile on their faces. What does it mean to me? I’m doing good in the world.

 

“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”

Paul Harris.

 

See you all soon,

 

President Susy