Have you ever wanted to make a difference in someone’s life? Have you ever wondered if what you do every day really makes a difference? If you’re like most people, you’ll answer with an enthusiastic “Yes!” I know for me personally, not only do I want to make a difference in my community, but I also want to improve the lives of others around the world that were not fortunate enough to be born in a country of such abundance.
I am so excited to be the Rotary Club of Wilsonville’s President for 2017-2018. This year, the theme of Rotary International is “Making a Difference.” In March of 2013, I joined Rotary to build relationships within my community and grow my business. But I became a Rotarian, and I remain a Rotarian today, because I know without a doubt that I am making a difference in people’s lives right here in Wilsonville, and all around the world. What I do as a Rotarian, what we do as a Rotary Club, and what Rotary International does collectively, truly makes a difference.
What do we do to make a difference in Wilsonville? We strengthen our schools by raising funds with our Pancake and Omelet Breakfasts; we teach critical thinking skills to our children through our Chess for Success program; we make the hopes of a higher education a reality by awarding numerous scholarships to local high school students; we foster and encourage a spirit of service by recognizing and rewarding the efforts of students at our regular meetings; we build character and teach life skills by sponsoring a local Boy Scout troop; we strengthen our community and enrich the lives of our residents by providing our free Summer Concert Series; and finally, we touch the lives of inmate mothers and their children by creating an environment that strengthens the family relationships and strives to end the cycle of crime with our award winning program Through A Child’s Eyes. This powerful two-day event just concluded its 15th year and has been so successful, it is being modeled throughout the state.
Those are just our local programs! We also make a difference around the world by providing support for local university students to bring renewable energy sources to remote areas in Tanzania in the Solar Hope project. We have a vibrant Youth Exchange Program that literally changes the course of young people’s lives by providing a “world” experience and perspective. We partner with other Rotary Clubs to complete humanitarian projects and promote peace in all parts of the world. We are saving lives and eradicating disease by being a leading fundraiser for END POLIO NOW. This amazing effort has brought about a dramatic drop in new Polio cases, from approximately 350,000 new cases in 1989, to only 7 new cases in 2017.
That’s a long list of “stuff”, but how do I know for a fact we are “Making a Difference”? I’ve felt it and I feel it all the time! I got goose bumps when the school counselor told our club what it meant to the students receiving our scholarships. I cried tears of joy and gratitude, when I heard an inmate tell her son, “I love you.” I’ve been choked up too many times to count, hearing about the international efforts of volunteers risking their own lives to administer a life-saving vaccine in the fight against Polio, or providing the basic necessities that we take for granted in this country. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, that the Rotary Club of Wilsonville is “Making a Difference.”