I walked into my first Rotary meeting that day in the year 2000 filled with a sense of excitement and curiosity. My wife was with me. We had been invited to attend an interest meeting by my friend who wanted me to join a Rotary Club to which he was also a member.
Excitement because I was eager to make some useful contribution towards community service and also make new acquaintances, curiousity because I wasn't too aware of the Rotary world.
I was filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment since I was told that membership to Rotary was only by invitation and not by solicitation. As I witnessed the camaraderie and atmosphere prevailing in the hall, I immediately knew I had made no mistake in accepting the invitation.
I became a Rotarian that year after completing the necessary formalities and since then it has been a hugely satisfying and rewarding experience.
Rotary is perhaps the only organization in the world which offers an individual the complete experience. Rotary meetings comprise of community service initiatives, informative speaker meetings on varied topics, fellowship meetings, as well as entertainment programs. Members may choose to participate in any of these depending on their aptitude and interests. Rotarians' family members and children are also encouraged to take part. Rotary has so many programs which help in the overall development of personality of a Rotarian and his family members.
People from all different vocations are encouraged to become Rotarians in a club. This not only brings diversity into the club, but also ensures that all expertise required for undertaking any projects is available within the club.
I too have had the privilege of holding various positions of responsibility in the club such as Secretary, Director, Vice-President, President and Bulletin Editor.
Every single Rotarian takes immense pride and satisfaction in the fact that Rotary has played a definitive role in bringing a disease like Polio to the brink of extinction from this world. No ordinary achievement by any standards.
In my club too, there are many ongoing community service projects which have made a life changing difference to hundreds of people for whom they are carried out year after year. Notable among them are the Cataract surgery camps carried out in remote tribal areas, blood donation camps, traffic awareness programs, adoption of schools in tribal areas equipping them with supplies and better infrastructure, working with orphaned children in providing education, vocational training, vaccinations, clean drinking water, clothes, food, and other supplies.
Being involved with these projects have made a huge impact on me as an individual. My family members have come to appreciate our own lives and existence much better. My children realize how privileged they are to be able to have even basic necessities like food, shelter, clothing, and education.
As my club grows from strength to strength with each passing year, it is difficult to imagine how life would have been without the so many new friends and extended family that we have made ever since we joined Rotary 15 years back.
It sure has been such a worthwhile and immensely fulfilling journey.
Rotary's moto 'SERVICE ABOVE SELF' serves as the guiding force for every single Rotarian.
Setu Gandhi
Source : articlesbase.com
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