What, me worry?

Greetings and all my best wishes for a safe, happy, and healthy holiday and New Year!

It is hard to believe, but I have been president of the club for half my term. It has gone very fast and so it is a bit scary to think that the next six months may go by just as fast or faster. If you ask me in passing how I feel about this, I would probably joke that July, 2009 can't come soon enough.

But, the reality is that being president of our club is still a real high for me. It began that way six months ago as a brand new challenge and experience. And although my perspective has changed--it may feel a little different than when everything was fresh and new--this is still very high on my list of things I have done in my life. I mean it.

So why the title of this blog entry? What does all this mushiness have to do with worrying?

Just as the ground has shifted for me since the very beginning, I worry sometimes that with routine, you are seeing me in a little different light as well. Being president means making decisions. And some of those decisions by necessity roughen the edges of leadership a bit. You may not agree with things I have done. You may even (and I certainly hope this is not the case) take offense.

For instance, I know my decision to bring back the IC Madrigal Singers may have upset a few people because of the perception it brings a religious preference to the club. My feeling is this was pure musical expression by some very talented young artists-- a much needed respite from the cares of our time. But, I still worry I made some of you uncomfortable. Doing so is not in my job description.

Also, I heard of some grumblings because I didn't allow time for our much-valued fellowship at our last meeting. In hindsight I regret this. I also regret that I came down a little hard on the folks who were still chatting after I started the meeting. I think I was being a bit too obsessed and focused on getting that very-busy meeting moving along so it finished on time. In doing so, I was perhaps too abrupt; I should have taken a deep breath and remembered how important fellowship is.

So I worry.

But if it is possible to enjoy worrying, in this case I am. I think we are blessed with one of the greatest Rotary clubs around. What makes a club great are its members. That means you!

I want to make you all happy, which I realize is impossible. But I still want to.

Once again, all the best for the holiday season. I'll see you when I return from vacation the last meeting in January. In the meantime, our President-Elect, Janet Steiner, will be at the helm for some excellent programs to come.

And remember. Don't worry. Be Happy!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I can only think of one word when I try to put my finger on why--warmth.

First there is the physical warmth. Let's face it, it's starting to get cold out. When I woke up this morning it was 8 degrees. On Thanksgiving day most of us can stay inside. It is hoped that any traveling is complete. There is no need to dash to the cold car and rush to be anywhere on time. It is a day to sit inside with family and friends while the oven and the company add an extra dose of toasty comfort.

Then there is the emotional warmth. When I think of past Thanksgivings--this year will be my 57th--I have only good memories. It has always been of family and friends just relaxing together. You can turn off worry and stress because you have people you love right there with you. After all, that is all that counts.

I have just described is an idyllic Thanksgiving. As I write I realize how fortunate I am that most of mine fit the ideal. I do not have to tell you that there are many many people who never have had, and likely never will have, a chance to feel this kind of warmth--either physical or emotional. And, let's face it, there are many in the world who don't have much of anything to be thankful for.

They may need to walk miles just to find water or a doctor. They and their families may be suffering from disease--most of it preventable. Their families may have been torn asunder by war or political turmoil. They may have no hope of a better future because of all these factors and more.

How wonderful it is that an organization like Rotary is working so hard to make the world better so someday others may share our good fortune.

Perhaps the true reason for the Thanksgiving holiday is to give us the time to think. Time to sift through our daily cares and appreciate that which is truly important and makes life worth living. Time to do this introspective exercise which I myself just completed.

Thanksgiving is not just one day. It is something we should do every day or for that matter every hour.



P.S. Let us also remember our armed forces and police, firefighters, and medical teams, who may sacrifice being with their families on Thanksgiving to protect our safety.

Seeing Ain't Believing

Taking a Chance

Today I write about our meeting of a couple of weeks ago when we hosted both a Democrat and Republican delegate to the national convention. Before that meeting I was asked many times if I was worried how this would turn out. Was I was filled with trepidation?

Some members thought I was crazy to allow a program at Rotary where two fervent members of the opposing political parties could butt heads. We should not get into controversial subjects at Rotary. What if it turns into a free-for-all? What if some members are offended?

Yet, I could not feel any trepidation. Why? First because I was confident in the ability of our moderator, Gary Stewart. Second, because I think it is a good thing to stir up some dust every once in while, provided we don't favor any one point of view.

So, yes, we did take a big risk in offering this program at our Rotary meeting. All or some of the "terrible" things could have happened. But, how much richer are we as a club for having taken this chance? Must we resign ourselves to always be non-controversial and safe?

I think and hope not. I love the fact that Rotary does not espouse any political or religious philosophy. But this does not mean that we should avoid talking about these things. By bringing our differences into the open with intelligence and decorum, we are actually accomplishing one of the main goals of Rotary--promoting understanding and tolerance.

I want to thank Joanne Lamoureux, Gary Stewart and the program committee for an excellent job. I encourage them to do more of the same.

A Jolt of Endorphins

I've got to tell you my whole body ached for the first few days this week. But, I loved every minute of it.

No, I am not a masochist. And I do not think I need psychological therapy (at least for this!)

I loved every minute because when I moved in certain ways it reminded me of the fulfilling time I had working to build a house for a low-income family in Ithaca. It also brought back memories of the work I did as part of our Katrina relief team, helping to rebuild the little hamlet of Pearlington, MS.

I wish there was a way to convey the feeling you get using your own two hands to bring about tangible change. I've worked for more than a quarter century to build and operate a business. It has been very satisfying at times and I've made a good living. But seeing the immediate results of my labor--in fact, just laboring for a good cause--must send a jolt of long-lasting endorphins to my pleasure centers.

It used to be you'd have to go to the Gulf to get this rush. But now, through our Community Build, you can get your own high right here in town. The next time Alan Cohen brings the sheet around at a meeting, please sign up.

Your achy muscles will thank you.





Kati Torello learns the art of the nail gun.

Four Ways to Financial Stability

I know that Rotary is supposed to be apolitical, but there is nothing that says my blog has to be. My comments are non-partisan. But they are provocative.

I believe the financial crisis in our country is a result of a bad side of human nature run amok. Greed invaded our government and society and metastasized without restraint. Neither political party was willing to take the steps needed to forestall this disaster. Also to blame are the many people who took on debts they knew they could not repay. More greed.

Seems to me our society has lost a good deal of its moral compass.

I've been thinking if any of the schemes put forth to solve the problem would pass the Four-Way Test. Without going into the gritty details you can pick up in the news, let's take a look.

Is it the truth? An emphatic no! I do not believe anyone has the guts to tell the American people the extent of the crises and what effect these measures will have on the prosperity of future generations. Moreover, has anyone truthfully answered the question of where all the money will come from? The dollar printing presses will be rolling day and night, making every one of ours worth that much less.

Is it fair to all concerned? No again! I don't think I need to explain this one. Let's just say that if you have played by the rules, if you've worked hard and saved money, you become the big loser in all of this as the value of your assets is inexorably diluted. On the other hand for the few at the top....well, I need say no more.

Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Can't see how! If anything this will divide our country more between the haves and have-nots.

Will it be beneficial to all concerned? No, no, a thousand times, no! The argument that the players at the top are too big to fail and that society will suffer more if they do, is specious. All of the remedies enacted or proposed thus far are window dressing. They will only delay and exacerbate paying inevitable price of a much poorer society with a much lower standard of living.

Perhaps many will think I am idealistic, over-simplifying, and naive by applying the Four-Way Test to this most serious and potentially catastrophic problem. You may say we cannot be bound by such high-minded ethics at a time like this.

I say this is precisely the time a strong and true ethical compass is needed. If we do not follow it now, then when? Was not the whole crises caused by people who failed to heed a clear moral direction, who put greed and superficial personal gain before the good of society and country?

What do I propose? Tell the truth. Do not protect and reward the few at the expense of the the many. Do not paper over the extent of the problem. Do not try to wriggle out with band-aid schemes.

The ethical values that were missing must now be applied with vigor. If the consequences are another Great Depression, remember, from that our country emerged stronger and as a moral beacon to the world.

Small Change

I'm sorry for the brief hiatus in blog entries. Many of you know I was in Costa Rica for about ten days and I am just now catching up.

However, while I was away our club accomplished a wonderful thing of which we all should be extremely proud. I'm referring to the Community Build, our new project of helping to rebuild and renovated a home on West Hill for a low or moderate-income family.

Over the period of one week in early September, twenty-four members and one guest used their hands--and probably some skills they didn't even know they had--to change the world.

That probably sounds a bit grandiose to you--a bit of an exaggeration, to say the least. But I don't think so.

Why? First of all, because there is no question that this project to rebuild one little house, on one little street, in one little neighborhood, in one little town...will create an opportunity for one family in all the vastness of humanity to live a better life. "Small change", you may say.

Not so. My mother always told me a penny--a one-cent piece--was a lot of money. (It was definitely worth a lot more in those days!) Her point was--and this is still true today--if something costs a dollar and you only have 99 cents, that one cent is now crucial.

And so it is with our club's work. Helping to renovate one house may not seem like much in the grand scheme, but by not doing so that one family's opportunities will diminish. Maybe the children will not grow up in a stable household, in a stable neighborhood with a good school system.

So that small "change", if you will, is not only crucial. It is making all the Community Builders quite a bit richer in seeing the immediate results of their labors. How, and to what extent our world will be enriched cannot be estimated or foreseen.


The Community Build is an ongoing effort of our club in partnership with Community Building Works and the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. Sign up sheets will be circulating at our meetings for the next work opportunity in early October.

Singing, Part II

Today's blog will be mercifully short because I don't want to beat to death the subject of singing (see last week's entry below).

I thought I would be flooded with comments about my decision. But the seas have been surprisingly calm...so far. Maybe it will take a while for the storm to brew. Or maybe this just isn't as much of a hot issue as I thought.

However, when we do sing I think we should have gobs of fun doing it. That is why I have asked our incredibly talented Bill Cowdery and Siu-Ling to add fun and spice to the menu. When we raise the chorus, I want us to enjoy it.

I may get some danders up when I say the songs we have been singing are so (early!) Twentieth Century. I don't think we'll be rapping anytime soon. But, The Times, They Are A'Changin!

Singing

Before I begin on the very touchy subject of singing at our meetings, let me say I was very surprised to see that Rotary International singled out my blog in the "Blogs We Like" section of Rotary Interactive. I am flattered. Must not be much competition.

Well, now lets talk about singing.

If you were at Rotary this week, you know I announced that instead of singing at every meeting, we will sing as a group every other week. This is what the reaction was like.



Seriously, there were boos and cheers of about equal volume. And you know, that is pretty much the reaction I get whenever I bring the subject up, either polling members individually, or in smaller groups. It's about half and half.

So why bother at all? We could just let things be. We'd get by for another year. Nothing would change and I could leave the issue to the next president.

But, you may remember that we did a survey before I started my term in July. Every member was given the opportunity to participate and 112 of you did.

We asked broad questions like, "Do you have specific suggestions for improving our meetings?" or "What are the things you enjoy least about Rotary?" These questions did not beg any particular response. Yet, figuring conservatively, almost 20 percent volunteered they did not like singing.

I am not an expert on such things, but I believe this is statistically very significant. We did not even mention singing anywhere in the survey. So the compliant was unbiased and spontaneous. I believe it is fair to assume there are many others who just didn't think to mention singing but who don't really like it or are ambivalent.

When asked "What are the things you most enjoy about Rotary?", not one member said singing.

Clearly, we need to acknowledge and respect what our members want. Although the survey was completely blind (we do not know who responded and how) I have a feeling the stated objection to singing came mainly from our younger members.

It is extremely important to the future of our club that we attract and retain young members. So by singing every other week instead of all the time, I hope we have reached a fair compromise that honors our traditions while respecting a widespread desire for change.

Most important, none of this is written in stone. This is just something we are trying for now. We'll see how it goes.

If you're interested in my opinion, I kind of like singing. But, you definitely don't want hear me do it.

Active Service

As many of you know, our District Governor, Lana Rouff, visited our club this week. I heard comments from many of you about how inspiring her address was. In my experience, this is rather unusual. I'm not trying to disparage DG speeches in prior years. But, I can't remember seeing so many people so moved and excited after other DG visits.

I was also very happy to hear Lana speak about one of the central themes I established for this year--what I am calling "Active Service". In her prepared remarks--which I believe she wrote without any prior knowledge of our current priorities--she said how important it is to seek out service projects in our own community.

What she spoke of is exactly what Alan Cohen and his Community Service committee is already planning; we will be helping with local projects, both large and small, mostly in partnership with other local organizations.

That way we can link into the already-existing networks that abound here in Ithaca and not "reinvent the wheel". This is what we are doing with our Katrina outreach. But now it will be much closer to home, giving more of you the opportunity to serve.

And what a thrill it is! There is nothing like giving the gift of your very own talents to help others. You will be surprised what you can do with your own two hands to put a smile on many faces--including your own.

I like to think that the reason the air seemed so filled with excitement and energy after Lana's speech is both because of her inspiring address, and because many of you are so proud of what our club does and what it will be doing. I know I am.

Rotary Does It!

Hamming it Up

Service Above Self does not have to be directly related to Rotary. Service can take many different forms and you can even serve others as part of a hobby. Once you are used to serving others, it just comes naturally.

On Sunday I helped with communications for the Cayuga Lake Triathlon. This once again reinforced my belief that even with all the cell phones we have, there is no substitute for the efficiency and reliability of amateur radio. Members of the Tompkins County Amateur Radio Club were stationed at Cass Park, at Taughannock State Park, and at strategic intersections along a 4-mile stretch north along Rt. 89. We passed messages to race officials and amongst ourselves to help assure the safety of the more than 700 bicyclists.

With ham radio all of the radio operators can hear what is going on at the same time and communications within the whole group is instantaneous; we are all monitoring the same frequency. So we can keep the race organizers informed of any needs that arise along the race course. Fortunately there was only one small accident, but the ham on the scene radioed it in immediately and the ambulance was there in very short order. Even if it is not an emergency, if a rider needs something, say a bike repair, help is as close as the nearest ham.

Just think how cumbersome this all would be using cell phones (if they worked at all in every place along the whole race course). You could not have open and continuous communications going at all times, giving everyone involved a complete picture of what is occurring on the race course. Then, if you had to reach someone, you would have to call the number, wait for the person to answer, and then, if more people needed to know the same thing, a second, third, or fourth individual call would have to be completed. This is very time consuming and inefficient.

That is why organizers of such events ask hams to handle their communications. For instance, we had a cadre of nearly 100 hams working at the Empire State Games, as we do every year. And year after year we are invited back since there is simply no other good way to handle the needed communications.

Besides this is all good practice for us. In the event of a wide-spread disaster, ham radio communications may be all that's left. Scary, but very true--even in this day and age.

So hurray for ham radio!

Now a word from our sponsor....

Why?

Why have I been a member of our Ithaca Rotary for all these years? I can't tell you in a few words, or even several paragraphs. But if you were at this week's meeting when we honored Jack Burns, you and I both have a good clue.

Seventeen years ago when I first became a member, my print shop was very small; I only had one or two employees. And I remember running the printing press until the absolute last moment, rushing home to change my clothes, driving in from Trumansburg, and just making it to the meetings. Why did I do that every week, almost without fail?

Again, no simple answer.

It was just a notion. You know. When something feels right, feels comfortable and necessary, feels like you would not be whole anymore without it.

And then on Wednesday when I looked out from the podium that gut feeling resurfaced. It seemed everyone had something in their eyes and in their demeanor. A smile, a glint, an enthusiasm. Here was a long-time member whose cherubic manner and muse endeared him to all. Was everyone stricken by sorrow to see Jack go, and also by joy at remembering Jack's many gifts to us over the many years?

Is it possible that we all shared the same emotions in the very same moment and that we all knew right then why we are Ithaca Rotarians?

Hands-on!

One of my biggest fears was getting up in front of a room full of people every week. But now that I've done it a few times--now that I've got some hands-on experience, if you will--I'm finding it's rewarding and fun.

Speaking of rewarding and fun, in the survey many of you said you wanted our club to do more real hands-on work right here in our community. The idea is to seek out projects, along the lines of our Katrina relief efforts--projects where we really jump in and make an immediate difference.

Thanks to our Community Service chair, Alan Cohen, we now have our first such opportunity. We will be working in partnership with the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Service and Community Building Works to renovate a house for a low-income family.

You will be hearing much more about this in the coming weeks. I know one of Alan's goals is to design short work shifts at a variety of times.

From my Katrina experiences, I have to say there is nothing more rewarding than working together on a needed project and immediately seeing the results of our labor. Besides, it is so much fun to be together and do some meaningful work at the same time.

Now, speaking of fun, here is a video I found on one of the aviation sites I frequent. This cat puts anyone scared of flying to shame. Be sure to watch it to the end.

See you Wednesday!

My Second Week

Hello Ithaca Rotarians,

Blogger's Note: Although this is the first week my blog appeared in the newsletter, you will notice there are two entries. Unfortunately, the link to my first posting didn't make it into last week's newsletter. I hope you will find it worthwhile to read both.


As I was greeting members when they arrived at our meeting this week (7/9), several folks asked, how being president was going. I turned the question around and said, "You have to tell me."

I have greatly enjoyed my first couple of weeks in the hot seat. But, my job is not for my own gratification. It is to serve you and Rotary. You know what they say..."Service Above Self."

However, just so you know, I am still on a high--one that I hope will last for the rest of the Rotary year.

All the same, I realize I still have a lot to learn.

For instance, this week's meeting went well past 1:15. I don't like this and I know some of you don't like it either. We are all very busy these days and you probably need to have the meeting start and end on time.

I admit it. I pushed too much into our agenda for one meeting. I apologize for this and I will try not to let it happen again. It may take a little time to get my sea legs here, but I promise you I will put all my efforts into creating an interesting and well organized meeting every week.

I am thinking seriously of playing with the order of the way things flow during our meetings. Some have suggested we put the speaker first on the agenda. A few years ago Brian Wilbur experimented with introducing the speaker half way through the meeting.

There are advantages and disadvantages to all the options. If you have any suggestions or comments on this subject, please post one to this blog by clicking on the "Comments" link below.

I'm keeping it short for this week. See you Wednesday.

Welcome to my blog

Hello Ithaca Rotarians,

I can't believe I turned into a blogger.

For a guy in my late-ish 50s, I'm not doing too badly at this technology thing, I guess. The next thing you know I'll be texting you on your cell phones and attaching video clips of Ray J. (Just kidding! ) To tell you the truth, Morse Code is more my style, seeing as I'm a radio amateur (ham). It's actually faster than texting (see below).

I want to use this blog to post my thoughts, some Rotary-related, and some just fun. It allows me to post videos like this one. I first saw this at the Convention in LA. I think it's terrific because it expresses some of the very great things Rotary does in a very quick animated film.




What do you think? (Part of this blogging thing is that you can post your comments. Once we all get used to this, I may be asking you to post your opinions on some topics.)


About the RI Convention in LA. To be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to enjoy flying to LA, doing Rotary stuff for 2-1/2 full days (that's a lot even for a club president!) and then returning via the red-eye flight to Ithaca. (Incidentally, Ithaca had the cheapest fair to LA of any airport Upstate. This is Four-Way-Test true!!)

Well, I have to say I truly enjoyed the experience and I learned a tremendous amount about why Rotary is such an important force in today's world. Without going into details that are very hard to convey unless you were there,the video say most of it, right there.

I'm glad there's You Tube because I forgot to bring my camera. I did have my cell-phone camera with me but most of the shots really didn't turn out too well. Here are a couple I like.


Some supplies that go in a Shelter Box


Kids wait for then-RI President Wilf Wilkinson to
read to them as part of "Reading by 9", Rotary's new
literacy project; The number of books donated made the
Guinnesss Book of World Records.

So that's my blog for now. Except that I have to throw this in for your entertainment and enlightenment. I'm gloating now!

Rich