Saturday, July 26, 2008
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?
Saturday, July 19, 2008
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!
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!
Saturday, July 12, 2008
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.
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.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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
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
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