Eugene Rotary Club President's Message

Mike Fox, President 2009-2010

My Fellow Rotarians,

Thanksgiving has just passed, it’s now December, and Christmas, Hanukkah, and the other year-end and -beginning holidays are upon us.

This gives me pause to reflect on the Rotary year so far. I hope you’ll agree with me that it’s gone pretty well.

For starters, the Club sold more Duck Race tickets than ever before – and in a down economy. Beyond that, however, the Club has really accomplished a lot in its other activities.

The Community Service Committee has been really successful in recruiting volunteers to help with Food for Lane County, and the Skatepark project is moving right along. I think we can have every confidence that the project will be a success.

Rotarians are stepping up to the plate and bringing in new, and in many cases, younger members. An active club like ours always needs to be refreshed, so that we can continue with our good works.

The Vocational Visitation and Social committees have really stepped up their efforts to increase Rotary fellowship. And, we have an active, multi-member Family of Rotary Committee for the first time in quite a while.

Your Board of Directors has been visionary in its stewardship of the Club. Among its initiatives are policies regarding Club leadership (that is to say, making sure that all committees are adequately staffed with chairs co-chairs coming up through the ranks, so that committee leadership can be refreshed as needed but still have a sense of institutional memory) and dues scholarships for Club members who are in temporary financial straits.

Lastly, I am so thankful that the Club has responded enthusiastically to the Rotary Foundation. I think we’re well on our way to reaching our pledge target. As a matter of fact, I think we’re doing well enough that the Foundation Committee and I will raise our pledge goal. And, for sure, I still want to have every Club member give in some measure to the Foundation this Rotary year, whether through End Polio Now, the Club Foundation goals, Paul Harris Sustaining Membership, outright PH Fellowship, or through the credit card program. The need is so great, and we all have some amount we can give.

All this brings me to Christmas, and to New Years. Whatever your religious beliefs, and irrespective of the holidays you celebrate, I think we all can agree that this is the time for introspection on who we are, and what we can accomplish. So for some reflection, I hope you’ll indulge me once again in my fondness for poetry.

Moonless darkness stands between

Moonless darkness stands between.

Past, the Past, no more be seen!

But the Bethlehem-star may lead me

To the sight of Him Who freed me

From the self that I have been.

Make me pure, Lord: Thou art holy;

Make me meek, Lord: Thou wert lowly;

Now beginning, and alway:

Now begin, on Christmas day.

-- Gerard Manley Hopkins

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and Happy New Year!