Eugene Rotary Club President's Message
2/1/2010 The Haiti Earthquake Helps Remind Us that Rotary is International
1/1/2010 A Painless Resolution: Visit Montreal, Get More Out of Rotary
My Fellow Rotarians,
One of the great things about being President of this Club is that the Club generously sends the President Elect to the Rotary International Convention each year. While I had heard about the convention ever since I became a Rotarian in 1988 and had always been curious about it, I never considered attending. You know: too far away, too many people, too much money, too boring, too square, too whatever . . . .
Well, that certainly changed when I got elected.
All the training that we as presidents-elect have to go through forced me to think more about the meaning of Rotary and its impact on the world. That helped me overcome my “phobias” described above. But it still didn’t prepare me for the impact attending an RI convention.
Being in the presence of so many committed Rotarians at the convention is almost beyond description. The best I can do is to tell you that it is indeed true that you will find that you have as many new friends as Rotarians you shake hands with. You will meet and visit with interesting people from all over the world. You will be inspired by Rotarians’ imaginative solutions to the world’s problems.
And, you might even wind up having lunch with someone as remarkable, dedicated, and inspirational as RI Foundation Trustee Sam Okudzeto, who came to Eugene at Rebekah’s and my invitation and addressed the combined Rotary clubs at the Duck Race Wrap-Up.
A group of Rotarians from the Southtowne Club are going to the RI convention in Montreal this coming June.
I think it would be a great thing for Eugene Rotarians to put together an informal delegation and join President Elect Mark Humphreys in Montreal. You’ll hear great speakers, make new friends, and come back inspired.
Becoming an inspired Rotarian is a good thing. I can guarantee you that it, too, will make you feel great!!
Happy New Year!
Mike Fox
President, 2009-2010