Rotary Global History Fellowship
www.rotaryhistoryfellowship.org
 WHY I AM A
ROTARIAN?
By:
Rosey Wong
September
2009
www.whyiam.org
I
learnt about Rotary Clubs in Singapore when I first began my
Travel Agent Career in 1969.
In those days
Rotary Clubs were for men only.
When
my family & I came to San Francisco, CA USA in 1985 I heard from
my friends in Singapore that Rotary was now admitting women.
I was very excited, but did not want to wait to be
invited, so I called 2 Rotary Clubs - Oakland #3 & San Francisco
#2 because I worked in San Francisco and lived in the Oakland
Hills. This was in 1987.
After 4 months my application was approved and I was
officially introduced on February 2, 1988. At the same meeting I
learnt about Rotary’s pledge to eradicate Polio. I am pleased to
know that only four countries have
Polio today.
My
first R I convention was in May 1989 to Seoul, Korea with my
first close Rotary friend Kay Clarke.
My first International Service Project was Rotaplast in
1990 when I was a Rotary Volunteer to La Serena, Chile. In those
days Rotaplast was part of SFO Rotary #2 Club. Today it is a
separate entity.
My
first Club Service Project was fundraising for SFO Boys & Girls
Club at our Annual Fundraising Dinner & Dance. Being in the
Travel Business I donated airline tickets from Malaysian
Airlines & Singapore Airlines and hotel packages from the Hotels
I represented in Singapore & Malaysia.
I
was having a ball and making new friends and attending almost
all the R I conventions every year and was a speaker at the SFO
Career Day and Camp Enterprise. I have enjoyed speaking since I
was a School Teacher before becoming a Travel Professional &
Master Cruise Counselor.
Why
I am a Rotarian? I enjoy the fellowship with Rotarians around
the world and that is why I joined the International Fellowship
of Travel Agents in 1993 and became the Chair in 1995. I
have hosted GSE Teams from Taiwan and Youth Exchange students
from Germany.
I am
a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Charter Member of Bequest
Society, Charter Member of Paul Harris Society of
D-5160, Major Donor and a Benefactor.
Can
you tell me which organization can allow you to make a meeting
in Cairo, Egypt where women were 2nd class citizens?
Everywhere I make up I
am asked to say a few words about my club and what we do. I have
never felt so respected and treated as an equal.
I am
proud to be a Rotarian and that is why I have sponsored many of
my friends and Business associates to Rotary. Besides promoting
world understanding Rotary is a means to help others less
fortunate than you and a great opportunity to improve your
business.
Rosey Wong (aka Rosey S B Tan)
Rotary Club of San Francisco #2, CA USA D5150
RGHF Member since 2009
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