ROTARY MOMENTS 

Every one of us has had our Rotary “Moment” – that moment when it suddenly hits you, “This is why I do what I do!!”.  For each of us, it’s something different.  For many of you, it continues to evolve.  Sometimes, they’re even “funny” and can leave you smiling saying, “I love these people!!”
 
The first weekend in March is the weekend District 7090 offers the final training for our presidents elect.  I’ve attended this as an incoming club president and I’ve also attended for the past few years as a DG - in training.  This year was “my year”.  My opportunity to Be the Inspiration for our future leaders, and to Make a DifferenceNo pressure.  Friday night we had a fantastic speaker, Rotary International Director Elect Jeffry Cadorette, who did an amazing job at inspiring the crowd.  Saturday morning would be my opportunity to inspire our incoming presidents elect who would all be going to bed with this speech fresh in their minds.  Again, no pressure.  I tossed and turned all night, with knots in my stomach - knowing just how critical my talk on Saturday morning was going to be!  If I don’t inspire this group, and the district fails and no body sets goals or grows membership, it will all be my fault.  If I ramble and talk on and on about nothing of importance, and they fall asleep... all will be lost and it will all be my fault.  (If you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m an extreme type-A personality and bear the responsibility of just about everything on my shoulders).
 
Saturday morning came and thankfully, the words came too.  I was charged up, excited, rolling along in my speech...really putting it out there... hitting all the targets... and then it happened.  My phone rang.  Loudly.  From my back pocket.  Mortified, I tried to ignore it while I reached around to discretely shut the ringer off.  But of course, no luck.  Deciding I needed to own the moment, I pulled the phone out in front of everyone - apologizing for the interruption - and acknowledged that I was receiving a call from... my daughter? (Funny... she knows where I am)... trying to FaceTime me? (Are you kidding me right now).  In true Rotarian/Parent spirit, they began shouting “Answer It” - “Point the Camera on us” - “Take the call”.  So.... I did!  As they video feed opened and my daughter connected to see a room full of Rotarians - all waving and shouting greetings - the look on her face was priceless... like “Oh Boy, maybe this wasn’t such a good idea”.  We exchanged pleasant greetings (through my gritted teeth) and she says “Whatcha doing?” (REALLY??) I replied, “Oh not much, remember that training I mentioned... of ALL of the incoming presidents that I had to do?? Well, you’re calling in the middle of it!!”  Laughter from the crowd, blood draining look from her face and extreme embarrassment on mine.   “Oh, so is this not a good time?” (More laughter as everyone can hear the conversation due to the microphone in my hand picking up the audio).  “No honey, it's really not.  I’ll call you back later - have a good time at your youth exchange orientation - love you, BYE!!”   Just as I close in to push that precious red button to “end call” the microphone picks up a frantic plea from my daughter, “MOM. WAIT. MOM!! MOM!! DON’T HANG UP YET!!”  I look out over the room, everyone is on the edge of their seats, you could have heard a pin drop... what’s wrong?? What’s happened??  I hesitantly ask, “What’s wrong Erin??” And my beautiful, sweet, precious 17 year old daughter says.... “What do you think I should wear today??”  The room erupts with laughter which is immediately followed by all kinds of suggestion for her attire.  At this point, beyond mortified doesn’t even come close to explaining how I felt.  I politely told her to “figure it out” and I abruptly hung up!!
 
Fellow Rotarians, THAT was a Rotary Moment for me.  Because in that moment, all of my presidents elect realized.... I am no different than all of you.   I am a wife, a mother and I am a Rotarian with an amazing assignment for next year.  I am not better than you, and I have no different issues than you.  I have a family that sometime takes a backseat, but understands and fully supports “why I do what I do.”  At that moment in time, I felt the love and overwhelming support from everyone in that room and the true spirit of my Rotary friendships took center stage.  I am so thankful for each and every one of you and I can’t wait to serve you and our district as District Governor in 2018-2019!
 
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