The following is an article written by Larry Denniston of the Binghamton Rotary Club in New York State of the United States. It appeared in pressconnects.com.
It is an excellent article providing information about Rotary, and I believe it’s worthwhile sharing it with you. I hope you agree.
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At noon, every Tuesday, I feel a very special connection to my grandfather, who passed away nearly 30 years ago. As he did for nearly 40 years, I attend a weekly meeting of Rotary.
Rotary was formed in 1905 to advance the ideal of service to the local community as well as promote international understanding, goodwill and peace. There are approximately 32,000 local Rotary clubs, connected through Rotary International (RI), in over 200 countries, working together to combat critical issues such as poverty, health care, hunger, illiteracy and pollution both at the local level and worldwide. RI is the spearheading member of the Global Polio Eradication initiative and is its largest private-sector donor. It has contributed more than $600 million to polio eradication activities in 122 countries.
My grandfather often took me to his club's meetings during my summer vacation visits to his home; he did it so I would experience firsthand how people can come together to serve others, especially those most in need of a helping hand.
Influenced by this experience, I joined Binghamton Club Rotary Club 64, one of the first Rotary organizations in the world. As I attend our weekly luncheon meeting, I am struck by the similarities to my grandfather's club, which also included a significant representation of community leaders, working together to support their city. I am equally struck with some very significant differences; most noticeably the large number of women members who are now, thankfully, vital members of Rotary.
Like each of the other 44 Rotary clubs who are members of the seven-county Rotary District 7170 in south-central New York State, Binghamton Club 64 supports many local humanitarian agencies and is involved with international projects as well. As examples, within the past year Club 64 has presented financial gifts to support the Binghamton YWCA in the purchase of a pool cover; assisted the Town of Conklin Flood Victims Fund; supported the holiday food basket program of the Family and Children's Society; assisted the Broome County Council of Churches in making van wheelchair lift repairs; and donated 100 stuffed animals to SOS Shelter, Inc.
Annually, funds from the club's Educational Foundation provide Rotary Youth Leadership Award scholarships that allow three students from Binghamton High School and three students from Seton Catholic Central High School to attend a week-long youth leadership forum, "RYLA," at Hartwick College.
Last year, the club's World Community Service program coordinated the visit to Binghamton of a five-member Group Study Exchange (GSE) team from northwest France. Local Rotarians hosted the team members in their homes and work sites during their stay. The GSE program provides opportunities for young business and professional men and women, between the ages of 25 and 40, to experience the host country's institutions and culture, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.
Rotary clubs are dedicated to service to youth and the organization's Youth Exchange program gives over 7,000 students throughout the world an opportunity to live for a year with host families in one of the countries in which Rotary clubs exist. Local clubs in the U.S. serve as hosts for foreign students who spend a year in our area to interact with U.S. students and to learn more about U.S. culture. As outbound participants, more than three dozen high school students within the seven-county District 7170 area participate in this program annually, as they live and study abroad.
Unfortunately, like many service organizations, the Rotary Club of Binghamton has experienced some decline in its membership over the past few years. The reasons for the decline are not surprising; a decline in local population and the loss of some businesses certainly contribute to the trend. Unfortunately, the decline in membership in service organizations is also tied to a change in the priorities of some individuals. It reflects to some degree the "It's about me" way of living that has become more prevalent in our society.
What happens as the membership of these community-oriented groups declines? The answer is clear; there is less financial and volunteer support for the myriad projects and humanitarian organizations Rotary supports. The local community and the world become less than they have been, and the people who directly benefit from club activities receive less help.
My grandfather, if alive today, would consider it his responsibility to urge his neighbors to become involved in service work. He would remind them of the incredible resources they possess that can be used to make their community and the world a better place. He would remind them to put "Service Above Self" a recent motto of Rotary International.
If Rotary's mission is one that you think deserves your support, we urge you to learn more about it by linking to our Club 64 website at www. binghamtonrotaryclub64.com.
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And if growing Rotary and “sharing Rotary” is something you, as Rotarians, believe deserves your support, I believe that promoting an increase in membership is what you should be considering as a priority.
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