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WHY DID I BECOME A ROTARIAN
Marcelina “Lina” A. Aurelio
District Governor, RY 1996-97
District 3800, Philippines
AT TIMES I ASK MYSELF:
“WHY DID I BECOME A ROTARIAN”
THESE ARE THE TIMES WHEN I HAVE TO DECLINE INVITATIONS
FROM CLOSE FRIENDS,
OR FORMER CLASSMATES, OR BUSINESS ASSOCIATES, BECAUSE
I HAVE TO ATTEND
OUR WEEKLY
CLUB/DISTRICT MEETINGS’ AND ROTARY FUNCTIONS – OR FOREGO FAMILY
REUNIONS BECAUSE I HAVE TO FINISH A REPORT REQUIRED OF MY
POSITION IN ROTARY; - OR NOT JOIN A FOREIGN TRIP BECAUSE I HAVE
TO FINISH A POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS OR SPEECH AS TO MY
POSITION IN ROTARY.
BUT THEN I EXPERIENCE THE CAMARADERIE THAT PERVADES OUR
WEEKLY MEETINGS; - OR THE PRIDE AT HAVING COMPLETED AN
ASSIGNMENT WITHIN THE TIME PRESCRIBED; - OR THE FEELING OF
ACCOMPLISHMENT AT HAVING DONE SOMETHING FOR THE GOOD OF THE
COMMUNITY IN WHICH I LIVE,
AND EVERYTHING APPEARS WORTH MORE THAN THE SACRIFICE I
HAD UNDERGONE.
AS I ASCENDED THE LADDER OF ROTARY LEADERSHIP,
I SAVORED MORE AND MORE,
THE LOVE AND RESPECT THAT I HAVE FOR ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
AS AN INSTITUTION.
EVERYWHERE I GO I HAVE ROTARIANS WHO WELCOME ME AS A LONG-LOST
RELATIVE. THE
ASSIGNMENTS I RECEIVED AND QUESTIONS I HAVE ARE ALL MADE EASIER,
OR ANSWERED,
BY THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES ON RI AND THE
ASIA-PACIFIC, ZONE AND INTERNATIONAL MEETINGS AND
CONFERENCES I ATTENDED.
BUT MOST OF ALL,
IT IS THE FEELING OF FULFILLMENT TO REACH OUT TO THE
GRASSROOTS AND TO GIVE BACK IN TERMS OF TIME, MORAL AND
FINANCIAL SUPPORT AND UNSELFISH EFFORTS TO THE COMMUNITY THAT
HAVE MADE ME AND WHO AND WHAT I AM AT PRESENT.
I AM SHARING THIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TO ALLOW
PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS AND CURRENT ROTARIANS TO SHARE AND BE
ACTIVELY INVOLVED AND BE PART OF THIS GREAT INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATION.
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