I’m a proud and happy member of the Rotary Club of Cleveland Ohio. Rotary is an international organization of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, and leaders who volunteer their skills and resources to solve issues and address community needs. They could add “while having fun” to their mission statement because we do.
One of the things I enjoy about Rotary is how other Rotarians want to meet you. The last weekend I’m in Ireland is the all-island District Conference of Clubs. Since it’s the Rotary Club of Cork’s 100th Anniversary, the conference is there, and I’m bringing gifts.
One of our Cleveland Club’s long-time members, Ed Thomas, has written two books – one the history of our Club and the other the history of the Rotary International Foundation. You may not already know that Rotary is a significant player in the world’s effort to eliminate polio. I’m old enough to remember the terror of polio and I’m so grateful to Rotary for making this their #1 priority.
Arch Klumpf, who was a member of the Cleveland Club at the time, designed a model for an international foundation that has made possible Rotary’s huge impact on polio eradication. I’m taking the books as gifts to the Rotary Clubs of Ireland.
The last night of the conference is a black-tie dinner. I need to go shopping and then I need to figure out how to get everything to Ireland.