Sometimes Rotary Is Just About Having FunNot every Rotary gathering needs a fundraiser, a service project, or a meeting agenda. Sometimes, it can simply be about getting together, trying something new and having fun with Rotary friends.
That was the idea when the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore invited members of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines and the Rotary Club of St. Catharines South to join us for our monthly social. What followed was a great evening of lawn bowling, laughter, friendly competition, and fellowship among all three clubs.
Our hosts at the Glendale Lawn Bowling Club started the evening with some instruction, teaching us the basics of the game before it was time to put our new skills to the test. Teams were deliberately mixed among the three Rotary clubs, giving everyone an opportunity to meet and get to know Rotarians they might not normally spend time with.
It didn’t take long for a little friendly competition to begin! There were plenty of laughs, a few surprisingly good bowls and, perhaps, a few that went in directions we hadn’t quite intended.
But the real winner was fellowship.
The evening brought together Rotarians, friends, and some of our recent Rotary scholarship recipients, making it a wonderful mix of people and generations. After lawn bowling, the fellowship continued over dinner at Cat’s Caboose, with more time to talk, laugh and enjoy one another’s company.
There was no fundraising goal, no business meeting, and no service project. And that was exactly the point.
Sometimes Rotary is simply about enjoying time together, trying something new and building friendships beyond our own clubs.
District 7090 is known as the “Best of Friends” District, and evenings like this demonstrate exactly what that can mean. When we create opportunities for members from different clubs to come together, we strengthen relationships, make new connections, and remind ourselves that our Rotary family extends well beyond our own club.
Service brings us together for a purpose. Fellowship helps keep us together.
And sometimes, a few lawn bowls, some friendly competition and dinner with Rotary friends are all we need.