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.
Tom Burns - 11 Years in Rotary
In both Indiana and Illinois, I have found Rotary very effective as a means to serve our local community as a broadcast station and to gain knowledge of thinking of the leadership in the business and the broader local community. I encourage younger Rotarians to learn as they grow to our next generation of leadership. Tom Burns WLLT - (Photo: Mary Ellen and Tom)
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One day my mother was out and my dad was in charge of me. Someone had given me a little 'tea set' as a get-well gift and it was one of my favorite toys.
Daddy was in the living room engrossed in the evening news when I brought him a little cup of tea', which was just water. After several cups of tea and lots of praise for such yummy tea, my mother came home.
My Dad made her wait in the living room to watch me bring him a cup of tea, because it was just the cutest thing!". My mother waited and, sure enough, I came down the hall with a cup of tea for Daddy. She watches him drink it up, and then she says (as only a mother would know):
Did it ever occur to you that the only place she can reach to get water is the toilet?"
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