Dear Rotary friends,
Membership! We hear about membership often, and this month is Rotary membership month.
What does it mean? To me, it does not mean a number. To me it is personal – it is being with a group of people that I like to be with. People who share the same values; but, may be entirely different in what political party they belong to, what their religion is, what they look like, how much money they have– to me, it is their heart. Together we serve others in our community and around the globe, with integrity, truth, and respect.
How great it is to be with people with hearts like this – to laugh together, cry together, seek ways together to meet needs of others with whatever gifts and talents we have. It is amazing to see suddenly how much it satisfies our own needs. That is why I am a Rotary member.
As I virtually attend club and cluster meetings – I see everyone doing just that, even though we are living through what some call “a seismic shift” in how we are living and functioning because of the Covid 19 pandemic. Clubs and members are still doing what we in Rotary have long done – all because of who we are and the core values we all share.
The people serving as your district officers and chairs are also seeking opportunities to solve any problems of clubs dealing with change due to the pandemic. Joining with two other districts in northern Ohio, for the third year in a row, a virtual Tri-District Membership Workshop will be held on two dates, Tuesday, September 15 and Wednesday, September 23 from 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. Registration is on the District Website – below the newsletter. You can sign up for one or both of the virtual workshops, which will focus on keeping members engaged and clubs vital, Rotary work and service, sharing joy, and what to do next to keep the momentum.
If you see opportunities in your club or community for others to join together or with you, contact Peter Tuttle, District Membership chair, and PDG Jim McKee, District Club Extension chair and past Membership chair.
Many of the clubs are sharing what they are doing as you will see as you scroll through the newsletter. It is impressive to see that Rotarians are honoring first responders, feeding schools and people in their communities, providing dictionaries, working at and supplying food banks, starting a pollinator garden, working with other community organizations such as the Urban League and Social Service Agencies, other districts efforts around the globe to assist with needs caused by the pandemic.
I am so proud to be part of this organization.
Pat Myers
District 6630 Governor 2020-2021
c. 330-388-2635
