A t the Rotary Club of Waterloo, New York, USA, this month, John Kenny will be sworn in as president. Not that John Kenny -- he’ll be at RI headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, taking over the presidency of Rotary International. In addition to sharing a name, Kenny of Waterloo and Kenny of Linlithgow, Scotland, share a belief in the importance of Rotary at the local level. We asked Kenny of Waterloo about his goals for this year.

The Rotarian: Where are you from originally?

John Kenny: I grew up in Waterloo. We’re a very small community, and my Rotary club has 30 members. We truly believe in The Four-Way Test. We try to live by that in our business dealings and in our social gatherings. It feels good to have that kind of support as your guide.

TR: The other John Kenny is from Scotland. Do you feel connected to your Scottish heritage?

Kenny: I’d like to try a kilt on someday. Is it true they don’t wear anything underneath those? I don’t want to find out. (I’m only kidding.)

TR:What are the advantages to having the same name as the RI president?

Kenny: It’s a great opportunity to let the world know that there’s a little area that has some great, healthy clubs that live the ideals and objectives of Rotary. In District 7120, every club supports a camp for kids with special needs. Our district has five camps. Every Rotarian in our district helps with fundraising projects and support to make sure these camps are free for any kids who want to go.

TR: What else does the Waterloo club do?

Kenny: Our club participates in every festival and event our community does. Waterloo is the birthplace of Memorial Day, so we have an event for that. For a little club, we do a lot.

TR: How did you get involved with Rotary?

Kenny: Through one of our camps, Camp Onseyawa. I was a counselor, and to join the board of directors, I had to join Rotary. That was the best decision I ever made.
When I was in high school, I was a “junior Rotarian.” I came to Rotary club meetings for a month, and I’ll never forget it. It was so welcoming. They really wanted me to be there. I felt for the first time that I was interesting.

TR:What has prepared you for your presidency?

Kenny: I’ve been a president twice before, once with the Waterloo club [1990-91] and once with the Rotary Club of Rochester A.M. [1996-97]. Last year, I was the leader of the Group Study Exchange from our district, and I went to Greece for a month. Man, was that a great trip! The whole trip was about exchanging ideas, specifically vocational, but I learned so much more. I learned that Rotary is alive and well and healthy.
My entire life has centered on Rotary and what it can do for kids in New York. And now to have the wonderful quirk of history – to have the same name as the RI president in the same year – is that wild or what?

TR: What goals do you have for your presidency?

Kenny: I have two major goals. One is to emphasize the concept of vocational service. The second is to make sure that every club program is provocative, interesting, timely, and a real performance. I want to hear about important issues, like landfill and water quality issues, wildlife issues. These things are very important where we live. I want us to be a forum, not just a meeting.

TR: How do you view the role of clubs in RI?

Kenny: RI President John Kenny says something that is very refreshing: that the future of Rotary is at the club level, at the Rotarian level. So how important is that little club in Waterloo with 30 members? We are Rotary. We are so important.

TR: Have you met RI President John Kenny?

Kenny: No, I haven’t, but I’d sure love to.