Back To Rotary: Upcoming Presentations

When I felt my phone vibrate I immediately thought it was one of the usual family or lodge suspects sending me an update or asking me a question. What I didn’t expect to read when I opened up my text messages was a request from the President of the Rotary Club of Bala Cynwyd – Narberth to be a guest speaker at one of the upcoming meetings. While it has been some time since I was last a regular member, I am still proud to hold the title of Honorary Rotarian and it will certainly be a privilege and pleasure to reconnect with the people who have continued to support me despite my long absence. Following our brief conversation, I will not only have one opportunity to revisit this find group but two opportunities to join them for lunch in the coming months.

The first presentation I will be making is on the transforming my everyday experiences into a daily blog and, recently, into a collection of books. I started my blog while still very active with the club and I have continued writing daily posts. Now numbering over a thousand, I have begun the process of transforming those posts into essay collections on individual topics.

The first book to result from this effort is The Good, The Bad, And The Adorable: My First Year As A Father which recounts all the moments from the time my wife and I found out we were having a baby all the way through my son’s first birthday. I guess you could call it a baby book on steroids. The second book, Out On the Limbs: Searching For Answers In The Family Tree, was released at the same time and includes many of the family stories that have been passed down to me as well as the recreations of some of the lives of my ancestors which I have pieced together through years of research. Of course, there are numerous more on the way this year but this gives you a sense of the subject of this presentation.   

While genealogy is a topic that I have discussed before during a meeting this presentation will be completely different than the last one. The second presentation, which was actually the original impetus for the outreach, will be on the research, application process, and joining the Sons of the American Revolution. This has been a goal for several years and now it is finally coming to fruition. During this presentation I will not only talk about the discovery of this family line which was unfamiliar to the family during my youth but the process of researching and ultimately proving this lineage to the point where it will stand up to the scrutiny of an independent third party such as the Sons of the American Revolution. Of course, this is just the beginning and I will also touch upon the repetition of this process that is before me as I begin pulling together the documentation for thirty supplemental applications.

All that is left is to coordinate a day that works in my schedule. Hopefully, this will be a regular commitment as I continue writing and researching… there are certainly enough topics that I can speak on, maybe not intelligently but enough for a presentation. But, for now, I will enjoy the opportunity to visit my club, share my passions, and spend a couple of days with some great friends.

Returning To Rotary... For A Night

Ever since I began working ‘normal’ hours I haven’t been able to make it to a Rotary meeting especially at my home club which meets for lunch in the middle of the week. Logistically it just hasn’t worked out. Of course, there have been other activities that have kept me occupied but I have only been able to schedule so much before my wife gets that look in her eye. And, honestly, I can’t say I blame her. There is only so much I can do without burning out and I have to have time at home or else I will just start shutting down.

However, last night, for the first time in months, I was able to once again join my fellow Rotarians in Bala Cynwyd for a wonderful dinner and, as always, excellent discussion. On what would have been my induction night as President of the club, I sat at one of the four crowded tables in the back room of Aldar Bistro and watched as another Rotarian took office. It was interesting to think about what could have been but that moment was fleeting because, while I may not be involved in Rotary like I once was, there are a lot of other things that I enjoy in what I consider to be a great life.

Unexpectedly, the new president gave a bit of a hat tip to me as in the short time I was active in Rotary and at the club, I make what turned out to be a positive impact. As I have said before, sometimes work and life in general can get in the way of things like Rotary but what is really important is that we remain active in our desire to give back and do good work. After all, we each have the responsibility to bring light to the world because while one candle may only be able to make a pin point in the dark, if we each hold a candle we can turn night into day. Rotary is just one of the many places where you can old your candle high.

By the end of the evening there were many people I hadn’t caught up with, many to whom I was introduced, and most that I had a chance to talk with about the long time that had passed. While I doubt that there will be time in the near future when I will be able to attend another meeting, I look forward to the next gathering I will be able to attend and I am determined to do a better job in keeping the like of communication open with my old club. Regardless of what happens, I will never forget what my club and Rotary did for me during a difficult period, the welcoming receptions that I continue to receive whenever I am able to make it to a meeting, gathering, or event, and what it continues to do as it influences my daily life.

 

Thinking Back There Seems To Be Something Missing

Every week I am amazed at how fast time seems to be drifting by. Every once in a while I stop for a moment, look back, and think about all that I have been able to do, see, and accomplish. However, this time around, I noticed something missing from my memories.

Truth be told, I haven’t been able to attend a Rotary meeting since September or October and while I have done my best to keep up to date with everything going on (thanks in large part to the weekly phone messages from my club) there is still a gap in my memory. Obviously, there is a huge difference between experiencing something and simply hearing about it. And because I really only write about my thoughts and experiences, there has been a lack of Rotary related posts since the last time I was surrounded by my fellow Rotarians.

That is something else that I struggle with. While I am still an Honorary Rotarian, I am pretty far removed at this point from the goings on in my club and in my district. Personally, I don’t know if I should really be called a Rotarian. Don’t get me wrong, I take great pride in my affiliation, but I really can’t say that I am earning that honor at this point. That is how I honestly feel at this point. With that said, I still carry the Four Way Test with me as a reminder and I still have a plethora of pins that are used in a Rotary rotation but that has been about the limit of my connection over the past half year.

I’m not sure if my current situation is fair to my club and to all the great people that I have had the pleasure of getting to know since I originally became a member in August 2012. I consider them all great friends who have supported me during a difficult transition period in my career but, since getting things back on track, I have not been able to enjoy their company. However, that only accounts for the meetings. I have not kept in touch with the club as I should have been doing all along. For that, I really don’t have a reason or an excuse.

It just goes to show that for many of us if we are not present and active in a club, organization, or fraternity we gradually become a bit disconnected both from the entity and from the people. I saw everyone once a week for over a year and now I haven’t seen them for over 6 months. A group of people and organization that was once a large part of my recollection and reflection is not oddly absent. I think it is time to change that. At the very least, I should pick up the phone.

Rotary Letter

The last few months have been hectic but that is nothing new to those who have been following this blog. What I haven’t really written about at length is my ongoing dilemma with regard to Rotary. While I have touched upon the scheduling difficulties from time to time I haven’t spoken of the back and forth in my own mind regarding my continued participation with my club. Although sometimes there is a lot on information to be found in the unsaid as Rotary posts have been lacking for some time now.

Not long ago I received a message on my cell phone from a fellow Rotarian from my club and the immediate past President. It caught me a little off guard as I had not let my thoughts go that far… his message was asking whether or not I was going to resign from the club and if I was going to do so I would have to submit a letter of notification by the middle of the month. It was a wrenching thought to consider but it was a reality that I knew I had to face. After many days, this is the letter I have written with my final, albeit temporary, decision:

Dear BCN Club President,

It is with great sadness that I write this letter. At this time, I must resign both as an officer and as a member of the Rotary Club of Bala Cynwyd – Narberth.

Due to my increasing number of commitments on my schedule combined with my extended work day, I am unable to attend the prerequisite number of meetings in order to sustain my membership in the club or in Rotary. This is the sole reason for my resignation. It is simply a matter of timing.

Moving forward, if the club would be willing to accept, I would like to continue my affiliation with the club as a “Friend of Rotary”. If there are other options available, please let me now but, to the best of my knowledge, this is the only option available with regard to retaining a connection with the club.

As you know, Rotary is an amazing organization to be a part of and I cherish every moment and memory that I have of the club, the district, and Rotary International as a whole. I look forward to continuing my Rotary service in the future when I will be able to set aside the time and effort that I feel is necessary.

Moving forward, I hope to continue our friendship and I hope to make the occasional appearance at Aldar Bistro as well as other Rotary events.

Please call or email me with any questions or concerns.

Thank you and please thank everyone at the BCN Club for all the help, support, and encouragement during my time in Rotary.

Yours In Rotary Service,

Sean

Time is something that will always be a limited quantity and I will never have enough to do all the things that I want to do. That being the reality, sometimes things just don’t make sense when you have to keep a schedule. I try to fit as many activities, groups, and events in my calendar and Rotary just doesn’t seem to fit at this specific point in my life. Will I return to Rotary? That is the plan and I hope that it will be sooner rather than later. Keep in mind that I will continue to participate whenever and where ever I am able but the weekly meetings are an unrealistic option. For now I say good bye quickly followed with see you soon.

PR CPR

Get your club back into rhythm.

Just a few thoughts stemming from a district meeting I had last night in King of Prussia....

Public relations and communications are an important part of any successful company or organization and Rotary is no different. Too often, this is something that is overlooked both at the club and on the district level but that perspective is slowly changing and those of us in District 7450 are doing our part by encouraging our fellow Rotarians to make that mental transition. However, this is a transition that is going to take a lot of time and a lot of energy.

The mentality that exists within most clubs, particularly smaller ones, is that the focus needs to be entirely on the service side of things. Those items or tasks that are necessary to promote the club itself are secondary. This is why many of us struggle with both membership and fundraising.

Unfortunately, there is also the generational and technological disconnect that exists in the membership which hinders the adoption both of methods and strategies essential for growth. Obviously, things need to change and they need to do so in a big way. The question is how do we implement such change into a system and a population that is hesitant to embrace a new way of holistic service to the community, club, district, and one another?

Change needs to be a step by step process not a mandate. A perfect example is social media. Many members are uninterested in having a Facebook profile and don’t see the need for one. The task then becomes to create the need. Show them why it would be a good thing to have in their lives both personally and regarding their Rotary involvement.

Maybe they want to see all the pictures of their grandkids, maybe they want to meet new people, maybe they want to get more involved in their service but are unable to make a regular time commitment. Demonstrate the value it can have in their own lives and they will better understand the need for the club to have a presence as well. It is not a guarantee but you will, most likely, reach at least a few members with this approach.

Traditional media is also something that needs to be high on the priority list and while it may take greater effort it can also carry with it a greater impact on your club’s exposure. Most clubs, large and small, promote large events and service projects to the local main stream media but that is only part of the story. Clubs need to write about and disseminate information regarding the weekly guest speakers as well as the induction of new members at the very least. Remember, if your club’s name is seen one time it’s a good thing but when people see your club regularly then you are entering into the realm of PR. This is when you are seen as an integral part of the community.

There are numerous other topics and details that can be discussed around the subject of PR and communications and many of them I have either already covered (here and here) or will be covering in the future. But, for now, I will leave you with the above topics for consideration and I encourage you to get involved by finding new ways to promote your club and to promote Rotary. There is no question that we do great work as Rotarians but sometimes they can go by the wayside if no one knows about them so let your voice and your club’s voice be heard.

One Man Can Change The World

District Governor (7450) Charles E. Streitwieser hands off the microphone to Rotary International Past President Wilfrid Wilkinson during a special meeting of the Rotary Club of Bala Cynwyd - Narberth held at the Merion Cricket Club (Ardmore, Pennsylvania) on September 25, 2013. Photo courtesy of Jay Childress

Since our club’s founding in 1926 we had never had such a distinguished guest speaker as we had yesterday when Rotary International Past President Wilfred Wilkinson honored us with his presence. In attendance were fellow Rotarians from throughout the region comprising of hundreds, if not over a thousand years of service. It was not only an inspiring but a humbling experience. Seeing so many great men and women united in Rotary is an amazing experience to be a part of.

The afternoon flew by so quickly that it is hard to recall all of the details but there are a few clear moments and emotions that will forever resonate in my own life. Past President Wilkinson’s remarks were full of not only a passion for Rotary and service but a love for people and the impact that our work has had on this world. Having traveled around the world, he has seen the many faces that have benefited from the efforts of Rotarians and he has seen the diversity that is represented in Rotary clubs around the globe. No matter how different we all may seem, we are all connected to one another through Rotary and through a desire for peace.

In reading about Past President Wilkinson’s achievements and his tenure at the helm of Rotary International there was one quote that I came across that summed up my impression of this great man as the embodiment of the Rotary motto “service above self”.  During his address at the Rotary Convention in Los Angeles, California on June 15^th, 2008 he said the following:

“One of the first questions I had from the staff when I was nominated was what I wanted as my RI theme. I was all ready with my answer. I said my theme would be Rotary Shares. Because to me, these words captured all that was good about Rotary and Rotarians. Because to me, Rotary is about sharing. It’s about sharing our time, every week in our meetings with our fellow members and with our communities and with people throughout the world. It’s about sharing our expertise, our talents, and our resources in countless ways. It’s about sharing what we have, with our fellow Rotarians and with those in need. That’s what I told my district governors, when we began this Rotary year. But now I know better. Yes, Rotary Shares means all that, but it means so much more. It means every one of you and every single Rotarian in every Rotary country working together. Working with dedication and working with love, working for a better, safer, healthier, and more peaceful world.”

This is what it means to be a Rotarian. This is what we all strive to do each and every day of our lives. This is how we continue to improve our communities, this is how we touch the lives of people we have never met in places we have never been, this is how we change the world. One person, one club, one community, one seemingly insignificant action, one small project, one life impacted can make all the difference in this world.

Let our work be enhanced through Rotary. Let us work together to serve our communities. Let our actions, through Rotary, be magnified 100 fold. It is in this spirit, with all of us together as one community, that we launched our raffle to benefit The Rotary Club of Bala Cynwyd – Narberth’s Community Educational Initiative which supports children from West Philadelphia schools through various programs and projects.

The Paul Harris Fellow Award Raffle is an idea that, to the knowledge of everyone I have spoken with, has never been done in the history of our great organization. By selling tickets for a prize that is unique to Rotary, every Rotarian and every club is sharing in the support of those school children in need in our community. Each ten dollars collected has a Rotarian’s name and carries with it their passion for service and their desire to improve the community. The success of this program will be shared with the holders of the two hundred tickets while the credit goes to every Rotarian for supporting us in this endeavor and making it possible to accomplish such great work.  

It all starts with an idea just like Rotary started as an idea by one man, Paul Harris. Ideas come and go but those which are met with passion and supported by the community quickly take hold and begin to bring about change. One idea can certainly impact a community while some ideas can change the world. This world needs great ideas and this world needs great men. We need, especially during this time in history, passionate people dedicated to making this world a better, more peaceful place. We need people like Past President Wilfred Wilkinson.

Rotary International President Wilfrid Wilkinson answers questions during his visit to the Rotary Club of Bala Cynwyd - Narberth. Photo courtesy of Jay Childress.

Who Helps You Focus Your Efforts?

Every week, or nearly every week for some, Rotarians gather for their weekly Rotary meeting. Every day there is something that needs to be taken care of or addressed to keep the club running as smoothly as possible. Emails, phone calls, meetings, mailings, filings, promotions, etc. are all part of what keeps things going behind the scenes.

It is a constantly regenerating list that is without end and it is the officers that take charge of these tasks. It is a full time job that these people do without pay and they are duties that are, generally speaking, ones that no one enjoys doing. When was the last time you looked forward to stuffing envelopes? How many of you eagerly await emails that ask for everything under the sun and you have to be the one to consolidate the fundraising efforts into a concise message/focus?

Admittedly, I enjoy both to varying degrees, but I am also incredibly odd. Most of the people I talk to basically run in the opposite direction when they are asked to assist in one or both of these matters while the ones that agree to help do so begrudgingly. And of course there are the ones that ignore the request and, instead, add another item to the to do list (these are the people that insist that whatever it is needs to be taken care of as soon as possible).

Since when did volunteering with a community centric organization require a political background? Pork belly charity seems to be the name of the game and implementation without financial forethought can run rampant if left unchecked. With the demands placed on the clubs and on the people behind them, it is astounding that anything gets done. Don’t get me wrong, this is by no means a blanket statement and should not be taken as a deterrent to either those thinking about joining or those considering taking a leadership role as there are many clubs that run very smoothly and the members understands both the limitations and opportunities within which they must operate.

The purpose of this post is for those who are members and are proud of their affiliation to consider the bigger picture and not to just think about what you want to see your club accomplish but to consider the other factors at play. First and foremost, does the project address a need that exists in the community or is it simply something that you want to do? If a need can be established, follow up with the following questions and dig a little deeper. Does your club have the means to see the project through to the end both financially and with regard to the time commitment? Is the project the best use of the club’s time and finances?

Everyone has good ideas and the occasional great one but we can’t be everything to everyone. While it is hard to sometimes have to let go of an idea or project, it is something that needs to be done every once in a while in order to ensure that the greatest possible impact can be made with the resources at hand. This is not a foreign concept and I’m sure that this is not the first time that you have heard those questions but they are definitely worth repeating as they are frequently forgotten.

I have experienced the wide spectrum of how operations are handled as well as the expectations that members have of their club and the officers. While one is easier to deal with than the other, the motivation to contribute is not dependent on ease of operation. It all comes down to passion. If you maintain your passion to give back to the community, help others, and be a part of something greater than yourself you will put up with almost anything in order to see the impact that your club can have on those around you.

Remember that those who take on a larger role are people who want to see things get done. They are not there as a barrier, all they are trying to do is to make sure the proposals made are in the best interests of the membership, the club, and the community. If you can assist them in any small way I encourage you to do so. Whether it is by assisting with some of the aforementioned tasks, helping streamline a process or system, or general things here and there any and all support is appreciated. Or, if you are unable to do any of the above, take the time to thank them for their service.

This is why we put service above self. This is how we improve ourselves while we improve our community and why we take the good along with the not so good. It is just that simple.

Penny For Your Thoughts

It was classification talk time this week at the Rotary Club of Bala Cynwyd – Narberth as we learned a little bit more about our newest member, and our new Vice President, Penny Hughes. Penny is thriving in her second career as a banker at Bryn Mawr Trust and after opening a new branch in Bala Cynywd she made her way to our club earlier this year. Transitioning from hair stylist to banker is not a scenario that you hear often but, having known Penny for some time now, it makes perfect sense.

Bryn Mawr Trust is a bank that I know well as I grew up in Bryn Mawr just down the street from the bank’s original location (still  there today). My family has been at that bank for decades and I plan on transitioning my accounts over there at some point in the near future. I consider the current location of my accounts as the consequence of youthful naivety.

Penny, who serves as Branch Manager and Vice President at the Bank, is the embodiment of why I plan on moving my finances to that institution. It is the personal attention, intelligence, and a common sense approach that is unparalleled in a national institution setting. Anything and everything can be handled through the various departments at the bank in the same manner whether it is a simple banking need, loans/mortgages, investments, insurance, and various other needs.

Penny’s journey at Bryn Mawr Trust is one that is fueled by her intelligence, people person personality, hard work, and inspired by her philosophy on life passed down from her Grandmother. Working her way up from a part time teller to a VP and Branch Manager, Penny is the embodiment of the American Dream and she is proof that even if you do something for 20+ years doesn’t mean you can’t change and be successful in a completely different line of work. And now, of course, that transition has brought her to Rotary.

Penny’s exemplary attributes are why we have decided to appoint her as our club’s Vice President. I look forward to working with her in the years ahead as I know she will bring the same fervor and love of people and service to Rotary as she does to her job. As a small club we have to watch every penny and now we can watch what great things can be accomplished by one Penny in particular.