Here's one thought:

Joining RGHF was not a quick decision. Although I like reading about the history of Rotary, I am pretty busy. But, my friend and classmate Mike Swinford invited me to a couple of their events and the members of this group are great.

My big interest in Rotary is Public Image. It is a lot of fun. I love the fact that so much of Public Image is being invented as we go along. Actually, history and public image are related. So many of the things we promote are anniversaries or “first ever”. If you don’t know the history, you are missing a lot of details. No one can write a good release without knowing about the past.

I am still very active in my club. RI President John Kenny told us over and over again that “it all starts at the club” and I haven’t forgotten that. Even when I was district governor, I kept my speaker chair job. It didn’t seem right to desert the club that supported me and encouraged me in that district role. Now, I am also the foundation chair for my club. I was pretty excited after a recent meeting when the treasurer told me that two people each gave $100 to foundation after my “foundation minute.”

And, recently, my club sponsored a provisional club near where I live. (My club is near where I work.) The new club is up to 19 members so we only have six more to go. We have already helped our sponsor club with a wine tasting, sent two students to RYLA, helped the food pantry and a couple of other organizations. Next, we will be doing Purple Pinky Day on October 24 and presenting dictionaries to the third graders in our area. Not bad for a new club.

In my real life, I have a husband, Joe, and a son, Alan. For work, I own newspapers in Massachusetts. I am on the steering committee for Saturation Mailers Coalition (works with the USPO). There are three newspaper organizations that I am active in: Community Papers of New England, Independent Papers of America, and Association of Free Community Papers.

If there is anything else I can say, it’s that I feel very lucky. I am very blessed. Hard work and many hours later, I have a great business, a good family, and my health. I think that is another reason that Rotary is of interest to me. It is a good way to be able to share one’s good fortune with others. And, I have made some very good friends: like Michael. (PDG Michael Swinford, RGHF president 2012/14) 

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