“Too Good to Be True” and “Looking Forward to Forever”: What Rotary Gives Me, Part One

I recently had the thrilling privilege of speaking at the Rotary Multi-District Conference which welcomed Rotary members from three districts: those surrounding the Albany, Binghamton, Syracuse areas. The conference was held right in my own backyard: Binghamton, New York, where I happen to serve as president of the Rotary Club of Binghamton. 

Despite being very nervous to address an audience of members from all over the state, an overwhelming majority of which have served as club presidents, and some even as district governors, my session was really enthusiastically received. I’d like to share some of my main points in a series of blog posts. I’ll begin with this one on the theme of “What Rotary Gives Me.”

At the Multi-District Conference, I asked the members attending my session “What does your club give you?” This is an awkward question because Rotary members (we call them Rotarian) are not used to thinking of Rotary as something that gives THEM something. Rotary, as a service organization, tends to be about what we give TO it and what we give to the world and our communities THROUGH it. But I have an inkling (okay, more than an inkling) that Rotary has the effectiveness that it does because of what it gives its members and I think that is a question certainly worth asking.

I know you’re not supposed to say this. But I didn’t join Rotary because I was interested in service. I nervously walked through the door the first time because I was invited. And at that first meeting, I felt connected to the small and larger worlds around me. I learned things, which I love doing. And I had a good time. And I found myself already liking the nice people.

At that first meeting, the membership chair who offered me an application was someone I recognized from local TV. She was the owner of a car dealership whose commercials I had seen regularly. I was a bit starstruck! And in the same room, the same day, was the president of a college and there was the director of the opera company that I had loved since I was a child. Physicians, lawyers, accountants, and others who worked for firms that I had seen on big signs and buildings were all there, having lunch and laughing among friends.

I was in awe. I was impressed. But I noticed I wasn’t intimidated. The feeling was warm, friendly, and people were interested in me. I was asked questions and I asked my own. At one point, I had the nerve to make a joke and everyone at my table laughed. I knew I belonged and I knew I wanted to come back. I asked if I could return and so I did, this time with a completed application. I could already see myself looking forward to every Tuesday being like these.

I remember this seeming too good to be true: super nice people, having fun, eating a yummy lunch and listening to an interesting guest speaker. Every Tuesday. And this wasn’t happening in some far away place from which I would need to say goodbye and return home. These people live and work where I did. These were my people. And I could come back! And keep coming back! Every Tuesday. Forever! No goodbyes! No end to this in sight! It seemed too good to be true.

And yet it wasn’t because it’s been twelve years and you know where you’ll find me at noon on Tuesdays. It hasn’t been too good to be true. It’s just good. I still marvel at that fact and I still get that feeling: I can’t believe I get to keep coming back.

Indeed, not only is membership in my club something that “seems too good to be true but actually is,” but I also find myself “looking forward to forever”—a future in which I can keep coming back.

Indeed, not only is membership in my club something that “seems too good to be true but actually is,” but I also find myself “looking forward to forever”—a future in which I can keep coming back.

I love my Rotary club. I love my people there. I love looking forward to every Tuesday. There’s only so bad your week can be when you know that in just a few days you’re going to be around friends again. You’re going to learn something new about the community or about the world, and the good and inspiring things that are going on in it. And you leave feeling better, feeling good.

You see, Rotarians know and care about the terrible things happening in the world–problems, issues, crises, challenges. But we see and learn about them in the context of what is being done about them and what we can still do. When you become engaged with an issue from a place of being called to help, there’s no room for hopelessness or despair. Especially not when the people there, whom you know and love, care just as much. And are willing to lend their vision, optimism, and brilliance to finding ways to move forward in a positive direction. I’ve never left a Rotary meeting feeling down. Not even once. Not even a little bit.

I’ll be honest again: I’m not a Rotarian because of what it lets me do. But rather because of how it makes me feel. And so I will keep coming back and doing what I can for our club and all its efforts. I’ll admit it because I think you’ll know what I mean and how I mean it, even if it’s not what you’re supposed to say or how you’re supposed to say it, but it’s true—I am a Rotarian because of what it gives me.

But don’t worry—I won’t suggest changing the motto to “Service TO Self.” That doesn’t quite have the same ring or bear the same message. Although, there is a profound and wholeheartedly positive accuracy in the sentiment.

But is it so wrong or outrageous to think that, with all that Rotary gives to the world at large and to each and every tiny little town that has its own Rotary club and even each and every town that doesn’t, that Rotary doesn’t also give so much right back to its own members?