December Edition (Dec 23, 2014)

DG JACK'S DECEMBER MESSAGE

A number of years ag

o, I realized that some of the people I met, in the course of life, were major positive influences in their work and in the community. It struck me that they were also the kind of people who had a zest for life – who were the happy folks in any room. I decided that I’d prefer to spend my time with those people who were positive, whose attitude extended into their work and community lives. We have only so many hours in a day, month, life – why not spend them with the kind of people who happily make a difference in the world?

What first drew me to my home Rotary Club in West Seneca NY was the fact that these folks had a lot of fun and didn’t take themselves too seriously, but did take their work in the community seriously. They were the kind of people I WANTED to spend my time with. They were the people who cleaned the highways, supported food pantries and homeless shelters, delivered meals-on-wheels, provided special help and services to the schools and students in the community and in the world. And they had fun doing it.

Eighteen years later, the opportunity to serve as governor of District 7090 has allowed me to meet with hundreds of Rotarians in 70 clubs throughout Southern Ontario and Western New York. Everyone I’ve been blessed to meet has turned out to be that same kind of person that I’d identified so many years ago as the kind of individual with whom I’d want to spend my time. You are all people who are dedicated to service and you do it with a very positive attitude.

In the last month, Mike and I have had the chance to get to two very different events in our district where Rotarians were making a difference. One Friday evening, we were invited to join the members of the Akron-Newstead Rotary Club for their annual Christmas Auction. This slightly wacky evening (you have to experience it to understand) afforded the club the funds to provide food gift certificates to families and individuals in need. The evening’s Angel Tree will see to it that nearly 200 kids in their community will have a special Christmas this year.

The following weekend, we attended a seminar for families and friends of those dealing with autism, a topic which is close to our hearts. The Lewiston/Niagara-on-the-Lake Rotary Club members saw a need for education in the community and brought together professionals in the field to present a half-day seminar, attended by interested parties from all over Western New York. These are just a couple of examples of Rotarians seeing a need in their community and addressing it.

Over the years, I’ve tried to send notes to the people whose example has shown me the positive influence and attitude that they provide to others. This year, I’d have to write 2500 of those notes, because all of you provide that service in our communities and in the world with what you do. That service is an inspiration to all of us. December is Family Month in Rotary and many of our members will be celebrating the secular and religious holidays with their families. As I celebrate with my own family, I am most thankful for the work you all do, “…doing good in the world…”.

Thanks for all you do for Rotary and for all you do in the name of Rotary.

DG Jack