" Man's mind, stretched to a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension "

Recently, I came across this quotation by Oliver Wendall Holmes in a book I was reading and it occurred to me how relevant this is to my Rotary experience. Five years ago I knew virtually nothing about Rotary. The "Four Way Test", " Rotary Foundation" and a multitude of other principles and ideas were as foreign to me as anything could be. Membership has allowed me and all Rotarians the opportunity to stretch our minds to include the important role Rotary has in a very troubled world. No one really knows what the future holds and, whether we remain Rotarians or choose another path, we will forever carry with us the message and values that are synonymous with Rotary.                            

It will truly be an honour to serve as President of the Rotary Club of Washago and Area -Centennial  for the 2009 and 2010 year and,  as I work with the extraordinary  members of the club, I will again, no doubt, experience new growth. Hopefully I will be up to the responsibilities of the job and will make our Rotary Club a place where members are comfortable serving both locally as well as internationally and new potential members will want to participate in the work that needs to be done.

The Rotary Club of Washago and Area - Centennial is a relatively new club ( going into its 5th year) and enthusiasm and participation have been our constant strength. I feel that one of the challenges that the directors and I must face, is the need to maintain and encourage the attitude that has made the last few years so successful.  It is easy to become complacent. We will have to encourage new ventures and ideas that will expand the dimension of the organization. We will have to recognize those among the membership who have the capacity to do more than that which is required and also those in our community who , perhaps unknowingly, are practicing the principles that we in Rotary see as important. Through recognition we too will be recognized.

 The quotation from Holmes is not confined to individuals and can also aptly apply to a Rotary Club.  As we invest in new positive ideas and undertakings we will attain new dimensions from which our club can learn and grow. Evolution is important and the confines of complacency can be stretched to new and permanent heights. We can make 2009 and 2010 a good year for the Rotary Club of Washago and Area and its members. Let's do it!

Doug Cooper
President
Rotary Club of Washago & Area - Centennial