| ||
| ||
The Rotary Club of Delhi has lost a family member. Karen Oakes passed suddenly October 9, 2021. When I received the call informing me of her death only a couple hours earlier, I said, “I just emailed her”….When I joined the Rotary Club of Delhi in 2009, I was welcomed into a family that cared for each other and the community. Like a small club, we were gathered around one table for our weekly dinner meeting like a big family, always checking in with each other. She almost always took home a doggy bag as she couldn’t finish the big plate of food. We laughed and planned over the dinner table.
Karen inspired me to see beyond our club, to engage in service that fuels my passion for Rotary service. She would say, "We are members of the Rotary Club of Delhi, AND Rotary International, with a responsibility to The Rotary Foundation to carry out our areas of service internationally." I learned Rotary Foundation 101 at my first meeting from Karen. She truly inspired me and mentored me beyond measure. I hold dear Karen’s “Pearls of Wisdom” and fairness to others as guidance. She was very insightful.
It was her excitement as she told our Club about The RI International Convention in New Orleans that really inspired me! I remember her saying, “ you need to go to an RI Convention and be with thousands of Rotarians from around the world”. “Be part of International Service and projects through donations to The Rotary Foundation”., “When you wear your Rotary pin when you travel, you meet Rotarians”. She had many stories of border officers telling her their Rotary connection story.
She was Governor 2010-11, the year after I joined Rotary and her District Conference hosted by all three clubs in Norfolk was legendary country hospitality. She had home hosting, tree planting and chicken and cabbage rolls at the German Hall.
Karen and Wolf hosted our club annually at their country home for club changeover and we really enjoyed the fellowship. Her smile said it all!
You knew when she was silent, that she was choosing the right words to support an idea, share wisdom and methods to engage everyone at the table. She could not be distracted when she was writing a cheque! She was always the go to person who knew how to do something, or knew someone who could do it.
She cried with me on several occasions when I suffered losses. She understood when someone was suffering and offered the gift of compassion. I am forever thankful for her love. Many have received her love, in her quiet way.
We all need to learn how to move forward without her. I want to make her proud.
This is the last photo of us together a week before she died. The Participate for Polio Walk Oct 2. You never know when you take the last picture with someone. In behind us are the trees we planted during RIP Ian Riseley’s 2017-18, Plant a Tree challenge.
Karen is showing “We are THIS CLOSE to Ending Polio”. I can hear her challenging us, “Come on folks let’s show we are this close."
Thank-you, Karen ❤️.
Lisa Bishop, DGE 7090
Member of The Rotary Club of Delhi