RI president helps charter Korean American club

By Susie O. Ma
Rotary International News -- 15 September 2008

RI President Dong Kurn Lee welcomes Jong Koo Kim, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicagoland Korean-Northbrook, on the club's charter night. Photo by Chris Chung/The Korea Times-Chicago

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District 6440 has a new club, in part due to the recruiting prowess of RI President Dong Kurn Lee.

Lee presented the club charter to the Rotary Club of Chicagoland Korean-Northbrook with District 6440 Governor Pamela Kerr on 22 August in Northbrook, Illinois, USA.

Attendees were asked to make a $50 donation to Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge. About 175 people attended the charter night and the event raised $6,000.

The club's 54 members are Korean American, and club business will mostly be conducted in Korean. But that is the beauty of Rotary, Lee told the charter night audience.

"What matters in Rotary is not what language we speak, or where we come from, or how much English we remember from high school," Lee said. "What matters in Rotary is fellowship, friendship, and building bridges of goodwill."

Getting organized

District leaders spoke with members of the Rotary Club of Korea Town-Los Angeles to get an idea of how a Korean club would fit into their district.

"We think it will bring people into Rotary who would not have joined Rotary otherwise," says Mike Yesner, assistant governor coordinator for District 6440.

Club president Sung Wun Kim says it is an honor to join Rotary during Lee's year as RI president and that Lee is an invaluable asset to the club.

"I cannot really explain how much he has helped us," Kim says. "It's tremendous how much he is supporting us and encouraging us to do service work."

Kim says the new club is getting organized, and members are getting to know each other. Eventually, the club hopes to do service projects in the Korean community, raise funds for polio eradication, and work with other clubs in the district on combined projects.

Lee asked district governors to bring two new clubs into Rotary this year as part of his ambitious membership goals. The Rotary clubs of Northbrook, Skokie Valley, Evanston Lighthouse, and Korea Town-Los Angeles sponsored the new club.

8 Comments:

At 9:15AM on 1 October 2008, Hari Om Shrestha, President (2000-01) RC Patan West wrote: President Sung Wun and Members, Congratulation and Welcome to Rotary family. As RI President Dong Kung Lee said, "Rotary given us Fellowship and Friendship and through which we endeavour to create peace by building bridges of understanding, and goodwill between us, in our communities, nations and world at large. Let us work together for "doing good in the world".

At 9:18AM on 1 October 2008, CHRISTY OPARA wrote: The RI President has challenged Districts to charter 2 clubs for increased membership as this will promote fellowship, friendship and goodwill . Rotary understands all languages and speaks all languages through Rotary numerous projects across all continents of the world. We will achieve the goal in 2008 -2009.

At 8:38AM on 22 September 2008, Rtn dinesh raj sharma RCKathmandu wrote: Yes, RIPresident Lee says and encourages us to have fellowship, friendship, and building bridges of goodwill. The brdges are built in our minds and Rotary is progresevely growing and serving whom and where Rotary see the needs. One world one rotary..thanks RIPresident D K Lee.

At 8:39AM on 22 September 2008, Wunmi Oyewole wrote: This is a good step in the right direction.Language is a means of communication which should not be a barrier to recruiting new members.We can't all hear all languages, but we can work together.Hence,the RI President Lee is right by saying that Rotary is all about fellowship,friendship and building bridges of goodwill.Rotary will leave the 1.2million arena now. President,Rotary Club of Agege D9110 Nigeria

At 8:39AM on 22 September 2008, Pat Peck wrote: Events like this make me glad I've reached out to embrace many other cultures.

At 8:44AM on 22 September 2008, Rtn. Syed Md.Moksudul Islam Mukul wrote: its a good day of rotary. congratulation & wishing every sucsess of new rotary club & his all members. its a great oppertunities for we gets new friend. thanks Rtn.Syed mukul President Rotary Club of Rupsha RI District-3280 Bangladesh

At 3:39PM on 19 September 2008, rotarian augustine taniowho wrote: irotary has long broken the barrier of language. wether u speak urhobo nor efik the mission is as spelt out by thr r.i. president. if fellowship in local dialect will encourage membership growth so be it. in some area in nigeria where rotary is still perceived as a zionist agenda, it will go along way to disabuse these minds.

At 3:24PM on 17 September 2008, RTN. SYED AZMATULLAH RC: CHENNAI PHOENIX RD: 3230 wrote: It is wonderful to know chartering of RC of Chicagoland Korean-Northbrook (RD: 6440, Illinois, USA) with 54 members of Korean Americans conducting club business mostly in Korean. RI President D.K.Lee's assertion "What matters in Rotary is not what language we speak, or where we come from, or how much English we remember from high school. What matters in Rotary is fellowship, friendship, and building bridges of goodwill" is admirable.

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