I recently spoke to Bloomington (MN) Rotary. During the Q&A after my remarks, one of the members asked if I had seen Past President Jim Lucas' essay, "A Rotarian is an Ordinary Person." I have posted it here, with Jim's permission.
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who:
- wants to do something extraordinary - to rise above the daily routine - to make a difference in a community and in the world.
- takes on a small task with unusual enthusiasm.
- has a vision of a world at peace, brought about by goodwill and understanding.
- sees 3 million children each year die from disease and asks, "Why?"
- sees 1200 Rotary Foundation scholarships each year and asks, "Why not more?"
- believes that truth is a difficult and worthy pursuit.
- acts not out of convenience, but out of conviction.
- believes that "Service above Self" is more than an ideal - it is a belief that transforms an ordinary person into an extraordinary member of the world community.
Well done, Jim! This is a great thought of the day for any club.
