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Why I Am A Rotarian |
| JULY 25, 2006 |
 My father could never be invited
to join Rotary. He was a laborer. Work wasn’t always available during
the great depression and when it infrequently was available - he was
paid. My brother and sister and I didn’t know we were poor. We were
treated by clinic-based physicians and dentists and attended summer
camps for children run by local charities. We had free library cards and
dedicated librarians, great teachers and volunteers who encouraged
reading and study.Meals were meager but steady and Mother always provided sustenance not only for the body but also for the soul by teaching us to care and share. She kept a piggy bank on the kitchen table and asked us to remember others less fortunate and give some of our few pennies and nickels to those in need. Our teachers were wonderful and encouraged us to dream of the future. They didn’t hesitate to embrace us and tell us education and literacy were the keys to our future and that we were special and possessed the ability to make something of our lives. It was important for us to hear those words from those we respected. Of my dozens of cousins I was the first to attend college and did so with scholarships that were awarded to me by service clubs. This was a significant hand-up in my life and I’ll never forget the opportunities that were afforded me. I graduated Temple University School of Dentistry and my wife Patti (a dental hygienist) and I worked many years side by side in our successful dental practice. There were no monetary inheritances from our parents but we are so appreciative of the wonderful inheritance of caring and sharing learned from loving families and superb mentors and teachers. Patti and I joined Rotary and quickly recognized the strength of this organization. What better place than Rotary is there to be involved in service? Involved not only locally, but also internationally. It is a privilege to be members and to share what we’ve learned and earned. Are there opportunities in life to “give back”? Rotary International gives us that opportunity. What better place is there than The Rotary Foundation to give back? Patti and I have recently endowed a Rotary World Peace Scholarship. We are immensely proud of Rotary’s World Peace Fellowship Program and knowing that our endowment will live on in perpetuity and benefit generations of peace scholars in years to come is extremely gratifying. The opportunity to donate a named World Peace Scholarship was for us a dream come true! When Patti and I are gone, our children will present the Rotary Peace Scholarship in our name and when they are gone our grandchildren and then their children after them. Forever! That is our legacy! We are honored and so proud to be Rotarians. Thank you Rotary, Eddie and Patti Edward and M. Patricia Blender The Rotary Club of Edwards, D5470 Colorado USA |
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