www.whyiam.org …a service of

RGHF Rotary Global History

"We live in the present, we dream of the future,

 but we learn from the past."

¿POR QUÉ SOY ROTARIA?               Click here for English

Por: Lilliam Almanzar de García

CR Santo Domingo Bella Vista, Inc.

Distrito 4060 República Dominicana

Miembro  RGHF 

• “Amar a tu prójimo como a ti mismo”(Biblia-mandamiento nuevo )
• “Jesús es verbo no sustantivo” (Ricardo Arjona)
• “Amor y verdad son dos cosas de DIOS. La verdad es el fin, y el amor es el camino.”(Madre Teresa Calcuta)
• “Nadie puede hacer el bien en un espacio de su vida, mientras hace daño en otro. La vida es un todo indivisible” (Madre Teresa de Calcuta)
• “Traten a los demás como ustedes quieren ser tratados. Esta es la esencia de todo lo enseñado por la ley y los profetas” (Jesús)
• “Solamente haciendo el bien se puede ser feliz” (Aristóteles)
• “A través de la paz interior se puede conseguir la paz mundial. Aquí la responsabilidad individual es bastante clara ya que la atmósfera de paz debe ser creada dentro de uno mismo, entonces se podrá crear en la familia y luego en la comunidad.” (Dalai-Lama)
• “Es mejor hacer amigos, comprenderse mutuamente y hacer un esfuerzo para servir a la humanidad, antes de criticar y destruir.”(Dalai-Lama)
• “Quien nunca ha cometido un error nunca ha probado algo nuevo” (A. Einstein)
• “Hay en el mundo un lenguaje que todos comprenden: es el lenguaje del entusiasmo, de las cosas hechas con amor y con voluntad, en busca de aquello que se desea o en lo que se cree”.( Pablo Coelho)
• Para finalizar les quiero plasmar la cita de Arthur Sheldon en la convención rotaria de 1991 en Portland:
  “Sólo la ciencia de comportarse correctamente con los demás da buenos resultados. Los negocios son ante todo servicios humanos y aquellas personas que sirven mejor al prójimo son las que obtendrán mejores resultados”.

• Porque para mí, Rotary es el vehículo, la vía para canalizar mi vocación y compromiso moral con Dios, la sociedad y conmigo misma.
• Porque Rotary es un poquito de lo que nuestro Creador quiere que hagamos bajo el sol.
• Rotary nos brinda una excelente oportunidad de crecer espiritualmente como seres humanos, pues primero nos da las herramientas para poder darnos a los demás a través de sus cinco avenidas de servicio, segundo nos hace mejores seres humanos al regalarnos compañeros(as) rotarios(as ) a través del mundo con quienes desarrollamos lazos fuertes de amistad y hermandad.
• Rotary es continuidad en el servicio, en la vida misma, y me motiva a trabajar en familia en bien de las comunidades más necesitadas participando con mis hijas y transmitiéndoles a ellas el amor al servicio, los valores y sobre todo la satisfacción maravillosa de contribuir con trabajo y obras con las necesidades de nuestro país.
• A través de Rotary y la fundación rotaria puedo contribuir no sólo con aportes económicos,siempre dentro de mis posibilidades, sino también con trabajo y dedicación en pro de que tengamos un mundo mejor para las nuevas generaciones lo cual para mí es una realización y una experiencia maravillosa, la cual comparto gracias a Dios con toda mi familia.

WHY I AM A ROTARIAN?

Lilliam Almanzar de García

CR Santo Domingo Bella Vista, Inc.

Distrito 4060 Republica Dominicana

Member of  RGHF 

The great majority of people when answering this question on the spur of the moment always respond by using that magic Word that defines us as Rotarians:  SERVICE

     Although it is quite true that in order to be a Rotarian the vocation of service is an indispensable condition, it is equally true that one needs other qualities and attributes that are part of each Rotarian´s life, such as: honesty, integrity, leadership qualities, commitment, and above all, LOVE.  Why LOVE?  ---Because love embraces a set of good qualities, and this is the reason that: When we love something or when we do something with love, it is always accompanied by commitment and dedication, so that the outcomes are always more fruitful and beneficial.  All of these qualities will allow us, without a doubt, to serve above and beyond our own clubs, opening new frontiers, sharing our vocation that unites us as brothers and sisters, and encouraging our friendly and fraternal Rotarian relationships at the national and international levels.  It is a well known fact that Rotary´s motto is:  “Service above self,” and that the secondary motto is: “They profit more, who serves best.  These are clearly the objectives of Rotary and those are phrases that describe Rotarians; however, my assertion is that if this is used only in speeches and it is not practiced on a daily basis, it accomplishes nothing, and is similar to the Christian who prays with great faith, but never carries it out by doing good works.  Well…This is worth little, since the Bible states that faith without good works is a dead faith. 

     Before fully answering the personal question of Why I am  a Rotarian, I would like to list several phrases in order to share them with you because I would assume that these are in consonance with Rotarian principles, and they also serve as personal guidelines in our lives, and in order to be good Rotarians, we must put them into practice.

---Love your neighbor as yourself (New Testament)

---Jesus is Verb and not a noun (Ricardo Arjona)

---The truth is the end, and Love is the way (Mother Teresa)

---Treat all as you would want to be treated.  This is the essence of all that is taught by law and by the prophets (Jesus)

---Only by doing good, can one be happy (Aristotle)

---By acquiring inner peace, one can reach worldly peace.  Here the individual responsibility is quite clear because the idea of peace must initially be created within oneself, then it can be created in the family, and finally in the community (Dalai Lama)

---It is much better to make friends, create understanding among us, and make an effort to serve humanity instead of criticizing and destroying (Dalai Lama)

---He who has never committed an error, has never tried something new (A. Einstein)

---There is a language that everyone understands:  it is the language of enthusiasm, of things done with love and commitment in search of that which is desired or in search of a belief (Pablo Coelho)

     And to conclude, I would like to impress upon you the quote that Arthur Sheldon offered during the 1991 Rotarian Convention in Portland.  “Only the act of correct conduct with others creates good results.  Business is, above all. a human service and those who serve their fellowmen best will receive greater rewards.”

     So, therefore, I am a Rotarian:

---Because for me, Rotary is the vehicle, the path that guides my vocation and my moral commitment to God, society and to myself.

---Because Rotary is a little bit of what our Creator wants for us to accomplish under the sun.

---Rotary offers us an excellent opportunity to grow spiritually as human beings, because first it gives us the tools in order for us to give of ourselves to others through the five avenues of service, and, secondly, it enhances us as human beings by allowing us the opportunity to be part of a group of Rotarians with whom we share a common bond of friendship and fellowship throughout the world.

---Rotary means continuity in service and in life itself, since it motivates me to work with my family in support of the most needy members of the community, participating along with my daughters, and passing on to them the love of service, the values, and, above all, the marvelous satisfaction of contributing through our works to the well-being of our country and our society. 

---Through Rotary and through the Rotary Foundation I can contribute not only funds, always within my means, but also through my dedication and work so that we will build a better world for the younger generation which, for me, is a magnificent experience which I share with God and with all of my family.

I give thanks to God who has allowed me to be able to share Rotary with so many wonderful people, and who, like me, love Rotary, but especially my husband, since it was because of him that I fell in love and happily married Rotary.  I also want to thank my sponsors PDG José Adolfo and Martina from the bottom of my heart.  They enlightened me with their vast knowledge of this beloved organization.