 BIO
OF PDG BLANCHE SLOAN
What a journey this has been! I have
often thought that I might never have gotten out of Jackson
County had I not become a Rotarian. When I became a charter
member of the first Rotary club in this district to admit women,
I had no knowledge of international conventions, zone
institutes, or "Anaheim." I had no thought of association with
the likes of Raja Saboo, Jonathan Majiyagbe, or Bhichai
Rattakul, not to mention Mark Maloney, Jim Shamblin, and John
Germ.
In 1996, like my colleagues, I became the first
woman Governor of my district--District 6510 in Illinois.
Leading up to that point, of course, I served in numerous club
and district capacities, activities that taught me about Rotary
International at several levels, the ideals of Rotary,
activities that helped to build the Rotary Club of
Carbondale-Breakfast into a thriving club, to make a difference
in our district, and to serve as an example of how women can
lead in Rotary. All of my eleven "sisters" surely did comparable
things in their clubs and districts, thereby attracting
admiration and respect as they served, and preparing themselves
for larger service. We were not going to become Rotary Anns!
Sisters, do you remember the morning in Anaheim when we had
breakfast together and were subsequently warned not to do that
again?
Following my 1996-97 year as Governor I was
District Trainer and then moved into positions at the zone
level, the first being editor of the Zones 29 and 30 Directory
(2 years), Institute Registrar and member of the Executive
Committee (3 years), Institute Program Chair and member of the
Executive Committee.
In the meantime I received the
Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service, was my club's
Rotarian of the Year twice, and shared that recognition with my
late husband a third year. I was a delegate to the Council on
Legislation twice, Zone Task Force Coordinator twice, and twice
was President's Representative to district conferences in other
districts, International Convention moderator and panelist at
least twice, and chair of the Nominating Committee for Zones 29
and 30 Director. I have attended Rotary Zone Institutes in
Nashville, St. Louis, Cincinnati, New Orleans, Montgomery,
Louisville, Little Rock, Kansas City, Memphis, Tulsa and others.
I am a multiple-Paul Harris Fellow, a major donor, and a member
of the Bequest Society. I maintained perfect attendance at my
club for thirteen years--until I reached that magic point of "no
count" status I find it more and more difficult to make it to
our 7:00 AM meetings, so I try to serve in other useful but less
physically demanding ways.
Rotary has been a guiding
force in my life and has provided opportunities for service and
a source of lifelong friendships that have molded my character
in ways not otherwise attainable.
To return to the
subject of Rotary travel, I have attended thirteen International
Conventions including
Orlando, Melbourne, Glasgow, Calgary,
Singapore, Chicago, San Antonio, Osaka, Buenos Aires, Nice, and
Indianapolis
I must say that my peak Rotary experience
was serving on the Osaka Convention Committee--the first woman
Rotarian to be a member of this committee and the only Westerner
among the seven members from Korea, the Philippines, Taiwan,
Nigeria, Japan (2).
Blanche Carlton Sloan
PDG 1996
|
