Welcome to the Rotary Club of Washago & Area - Centennial!
My introduction to Rotary occurred in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains in India. I was travelling that area with a friend and came across a sign on the road with the Rotary Wheel on it. My friend said to take a picture of the sign and bring it back to Dan (Herbert) since he was a Rotarian and would appreciate it. When I did just that, Dan proceeded to tell me all about Rotary - how Rotary helps the international community through its End Polio Now Campaign, literacy and clean water projects and how Rotarians meet fellow Rotarians through District and International Conferences.
I became a Rotarian as a charter member of this club when it began on February 23, 2005. I have enjoyed working on many of the projects we have done in the past, from purchasing shelter boxes and wheelchairs for distribution worldwide, to wrapping the local Washago Water Tower.
Our club has been involved in many successful fundraising initiatives - Wild Game Dinner, Oscar Night, Christmas ham sales - I like to call them 'fun'raising projects because we all have so much fun working together to make them a success! We are currently gearing up to launch our 'Raise the Roof' Music Festival being held on August 13, 2011. Our whole club is once again behind this event and donating of their time, energy and expertise to help make it a successful 'fun'raising project.
Although Rotary around the world is known for its great and successful service projects, it is also about fellowship and this aspect of Rotary is the main reason I chose this organization over others to join. I enjoy the fellowship that occurs at every meeting, which are a very entertaining and enjoyable way to start my Wednesday. For those of you thinking of joining our club but aren't 'morning people', come out and try it anyway! I'm not a morning person and really don't appreciate the alarm going off when it's still dark outside (thank goodness it only occurs in the winter months) but it does end up being an enjoyable way to start the day!
A big thank you to the members of my club for the support that they've given me and, I know, will continue to give me while I lead them through this new Rotary year. I will give it my 'all' because I know the good works that can be accomplished when we all work together.
As the 2011-2012 Rotary International theme, RI President Kalyan Banerjee, has asked us to 'REACH WITHIN TO EMBRACE HUMANITY'!
Mary Bax
Club President