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What it's like to...

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Illustrations by

Ordinary Rotarians can find themselves in
extraordinary circumstances.

This is the fifth annual appearance of What It’s Like, a proven favorite with readers inside and outside Rotary. If you’re a Rotarian with a great story — or you know someone connected with Rotary who’s got a fantastic tale — we want to hear it. Look for the best stories in future issues of The Rotarian.

Share your story with us at rotarian@rotary.org.
Include “What it’s like” in the subject line of your email.

Explore each story as they tell us in their own words what it's like to ...

  • Conquer the Seven Summits

    Joyce Azzam
    Rotary Club of Beyrouth, Lebanon

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  • Scrub in on the world’s first heart transplant

    Dean Rohrs
    Rotary Club of Langley Central, British Columbia; past RI vice president

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  • Play in a legendary World Cup game

    Manuel Amoros
    Rotary Club of Arles-sur-Rhône, France

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  • Ski into the heart of Rotary

    Guido Franceschetti
    Rotary Club of Rome International

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  • Visit every national park in the United States

    Mikah Meyer
    Ambassadorial Scholar

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  • Evade capture in World War II

    Seiji Imaizumi
    Rotary Club of Kawagoe, Japan

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  • Host two generations of Youth Exchange students

    Janet Wilson
    Rotary Club of Sauquoit, New York

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  • Make it through a hurricane

    Mike Stafford
    Rotary Club of Freeport, Bahamas

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  • Fly a chopper into history

    Jon Stillman
    Rotary Club of Stillwater Sunrise, Minnesota

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  • Donate a kidney to a friend

    Julie Spann
    Rotary Club of Fishkill, New York

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  • Receive a kidney from a friend

    Sterling Gaston
    Rotary Club of Fishkill, New York

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  • Comfort first responders

    Ted Morris
    Rotary Club of Clearwater, Florida

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  • Experience the aftermath of Chernobyl

    Hervé Hacard
    Rotary Club of Dinan, France

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  • Canoe the Mississippi from source to sea

    Erik Elsea
    Rotary Club of Cape Coral, Florida

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  • Meet a future monarch

    Glenn Adams
    Group Study Exchange

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  • Plant a butterfly garden with the first lady

    Chris Puttock
    Rotary Club of College Park, Maryland

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  • Take a risk after a life-changing diagnosis

    Linda Mulhern
    Rotary Club of St. Paul, Minnesota

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