Past District Governor, Janet Kolepp opened our meeting with a personal story regarding her connection to Rotary. She remarked, that even members who have been a part of Rotary for years can stumble when someone asks, "What is Rotary?". Her suggestion is, “Let me tell you a story”
Janet then walked us through a worksheet with these steps:
- Reflect on your journey. What inspired you to join Rotary?
- Highlight Rotary’s impact on You. Identify the ways in which Rotary has impacted your life.
- Identify Rotary’s impact on others. Identify ways in which Rotary also affected the lives of those around you.
As we moved through each step, Rotary Members shared personal responses regarding their Rotary journey. I heard how Rotary has impacted our members with our community programs and Rotary International programs, how time in our club has developed relationships with others in our club, and how each of the Rotary Seven Areas of Focus connects to their life.
Our Rotary Members have inspiring stories to share. I hope our session with Janet will inspire you to tell your story about Rotary to others. An authentic story will connect with others and make them curious about joining you on your Rotary journey.
Looking forward to seeing you Thursday at Rotary!
Sarah Bergin
President-Elect