What Rotary Has Meant to Me?
Dr. Mark Mench - 30 Years in Rotary
I joined Rotary about 30 years ago, at the suggestion of a fellow physician. I was relatively new in town, working in the CGH Emergency Department, and did not know very many people.
At that time Sterling Noon Rotary was a larger group with 80 to 90 members. Only two were women, but those two were tough as nails, could give as good as they got, and were respected and liked by most if not all. The membership has dwindled over the years due to a change in the culture regarding service clubs, to the closing of many businesses occurring about the same time, and due to similar reasons to the closing of the Northwestern Steel and Wire Mill, and most recently to the Corona Virus.
What I enjoyed and appreciated most over the years was the opportunity to associate with men and women who were, and are, leaders and people of great character and accomplishment. Interacting with them, and watching them interact with each other has been incredibly instructive. Observing CEO’s, Bankers, Lawyers, and owners of private businesses unselfishly doing the manual labor required for the annual broils, and others who spent their vacation time traveling to and working in foreign countries has been inspiring.
Although the Sterling Noon Rotary participation appears to be at its nadir, I have great hopes for its future. All things go in cycles and I believe that the circumstances which gave rise to the heyday of service clubs will, and are, occurring again. Difficult economic times are ahead. Great leadership will be necessary to alleviate the hardships that will affect the people of Sterling, but Sterling has been through hard times before in the last 100 years, including war and depression.
I am proud to be part of an International association that has accomplished so much and is so widely respected, and I look forward to my continued association with Rotary.
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My dog ate all my Scrabble tiles!
What did he do?
Left leaving messages around the house.
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Why did the Oreo go to the dentist?
Because he lost his filling.
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