Rotarian for life

In reading the January interview with Ron Beaubien, RI’s Membership Development and Retention chair, I was struck by his comment that “We can’t retain everyone; all of us will leave Rotary one day.”

Is there an expiry date on Rotary membership? And have I reached that date? As a 28-year member of my Rotary club, I have served as club president, edited our club bulletin for over 20 years, been recognized as a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and chaired numerous committees. Since my retirement, I am no longer able to make the financial contributions that are encouraged of members each week, and since my health isn’t what it used to be, I can no longer take part in the hands-on physical requirements of some club projects.

But am I done? I think not. I still believe in the ideals that first attracted me to Rotary. The Four-Way Test sits on my desk, and I wear my past president’s pin and my Paul Harris pin with great pride.

Those of us in the 65-year-plus age range still can make valuable contributions to Rotary through serving on one of the many committees that make a successful club function, even if we can’t lift boxes of books or make weekly cash contributions.

Bruce A. Gordon
Nanaimo, B.C., Canada

A pat on the back 

I just read the December Rotarian from cover to cover, and I wish to commend you on a very impressive issue. So much information, and the celebration of the family of Rotary was an amazing way to build pride in membership in a fine worldwide organization. We really are something, aren’t we? Thank you for the shot in the arm.

Jan Cotant
Gaylord, Mich., USA

Goodwill and good ideas

I read with great interest the article “Spreading Goodwill” by Barbara E. Walters [October]. It gave me some great ideas about working with our local Goodwill to initiate some projects, fundraisers, and other activities.

Christopher H. Bratton
Lexington, Tenn., USA

Dedicated Rotarian

In December, you published a letter from Greg Johnson of the Rotary Club of Sparta, Tenn., USA, challenging all Canadian and U.S. clubs to review their rosters for active members older than Sparta club member Charles Robinson, who was born on 29 September 1918.

I am happy to report that here at the Rotary Club of Carlsbad Hi-Noon, we have a very active member, Jim Smith, who was born on 3 March 1918 and joined Rotary in 1948. Jim is a founding member of our club, past club president, a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Paul Harris Society and the Bequest Society. He and his wife, Marcela, regularly participate in service and social activities and are an inspiration to everyone.

It just so happens that Jim’s 90th birthday falls on a club meeting day, but he plans to attend and to honor some of his family members with Paul Harris Fellow Recognition. We are planning quite a celebration to fete him as well. Congratulations to Jim Smith, Charles Robinson, and all of the other longtime and long-lived Rotarians who continue to model the ideals of Service Above Self.

Robyn A. Hill
Carlsbad, Calif., USA

Editor’s note: This letter was written in January, before Smith’s 90th birthday in March. Happy belated birthday, Jim!

In praise of RI conventions

I have been a Rotarian for 40 years and have attended four Rotary International conventions. The fellowship, the impact of The Rotary Foundation, the exposure to people from different countries, the magic of Rotary – all this and more can be fully understood and enjoyed only at an RI Convention.

My club pays for its president-elect to attend the convention. On their return, the presidents-elect have a glow on their faces, are motivated by the inspirational speeches, and have made friends from all over the world. They are ready to take up the responsibility of president of the club with enthusiasm and determination to make their Rotary year a memorable and rewarding one. I only wish more clubs would send their representatives to the convention.

Pratap Gokuldas
Coimbatore, India

Create online news feeds

Adding the RI RSS news feed to club Web sites [Up Front, January] is a great idea, but why not create an RSS feed of your own? As a companion to our club newsletter, we publish articles, meeting updates, and other information using Blogger, which creates an RSS feed of our site. It’s easy to implement, requires no programming skills, and best of all, it’s free. See our blog at rotopeka.blogspot.com. If you need an RSS reader, you can try Google’s free reader at www.google.com/reader.

Greg Hill
Topeka, Kan., USA

Sounds like a good plan

Congratulations to the RI Board for creating the RI Strategic Plan. I applaud the plan’s content and aspirations. Key to its success will be the creation of specific, measurable annual initiatives along with clear accountabilities and timetables.

Craig R. Stokely
Wayne, Ill., USA

Editor’s note: The Board has identified several success measures to monitor the plan’s progress and timetable. RI committees will be reporting regularly to the Board in their efforts to move the plan forward.

Cross-club pollination

I live in a very small, rural village in upstate New York called Stamford. Since attending my first Rotary club meeting six or seven years ago, I’ve become an active member of our Stamford club, and I’m proud of our small club’s many service activities.

Last year, my wife and I decided to become snowbirds in Brooksville, Fla., over the winter. I was looking for a Rotary club where I could attend regular meetings, and I found the Rotary Club of Brooksville. Although it’s a much larger club, from the first meeting I attended I felt as though I was family. I participate in all of their activities, and I just love it. I am so glad that I found this club and that they treat me as one of their own. When I return to Stamford in the spring, I always bring back new ideas that I have learned from the Brooksville club.

Ed Lorgan
Stamford, N.Y., USA