GROWING OUR NUMBERS TO KEEP ROTARY STRONG

The Club recently accepted Karri Mealy’s challenge to identify classifications and individuals with those professional qualities and high ethical standards that we feel might make valuable contributions as potential members of Springfield Rotary.  That important discussion must continue because Rotary, like any business, will either grow or wither.  This should give us pause to reflect on the challenges Paul Harris faced when he invited Silvester Schiele, a coal dealer, Hiram Shorey, a merchant tailor, and Gustavus Loehr, a mining engineer, to join him that cold February evening in Chicago over a hundred years ago.  Paul’s idea was that business leaders should meet periodically to enjoy friendship and enlarge their circle of business and professional acquaintances.  District 5110’s Newest Rotary Club Starting Rotary as did Paul Harris and a small group in 1905 required an incredible level of commitment, dedication and perseverance, but stop and think about what it would take to form a new Rotary Club today.  A challenge like that pretty much pales our simple challenge of finding new members for Springfield Rotary … wouldn’t you agree?

 

It was my honor and privilege to represent President Liz and Springfield Rotary at the Charter Celebration of the Rotary Club of Bay Area Sunrise in Coos Bay on October 14th.  District Governor Hal Kibby and Past District Governor Bob Kings offered comments recognizing the hard work by the small group of Rotarians who, over a period of several months, established what today is District 5110’s newest Rotary Club … comprised of 23 Rotarians.  “Paul Harris started Rotary with four people, so why did it take me 23?” joked Chuck Holloway, the new Club’s co-founder and now its first past-president.  Do you think we can grow Springfield Rotary by another 23 members over the next year?  Why not?  What would prevent this?

By the way, Bay Area Sunrise Rotary appreciates its new badge box, presented as a token of congratulations from Springfield Rotary.

The Miracle of Rotary

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”  Citing anthropologist Margaret Mead, this was the message Rotary International Foundation Trustee Carolyn Jones emphasized when she visited our Club last year to share a message about the compassionate work Rotary is doing in Russia and other parts of the world. 

Today, there are nearly 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries.  When was the last time most of us paused to think about the fact that the miracle of Rotary grew from the shared vision and commitment of Paul Harris and just three other men?  Or how about the fact that the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International -- today with annual contributions exceeding  $117.9 million -- began with a donation of only $26.50? 

After accepting the official charter from District Governor Hal, Bay Area Sunrise Rotary Club President David Bridgham stressed that Rotary is a journey, not a milestone, and that “our real work starts now.”  At Springfield Rotary, and as individual Rotarians, we have a moral responsibility to help “grow” our numbers and make sure we’re doing our collective and individual part to ensure that the miracle of Rotary doesn’t end with all that has been accomplished to date – substantial as this is.  Bay Area Sunrise’s work has just begun, and ours in Springfield is not yet finished.  For all who believe in Rotary’s mission, a needy world is calling. 

     … Bill Grile, Springfield Rotary Foundation Chair