The Value of Every Rotarian

The following essay was written by Bill Matthews, editor of Schaumburg AM's bulletin, for that bulletin. It was decided to share it with everyone in the district because the message applies to all Rotarians:

As is common with District Governor visits, a frequently asked question of club board
members is: “What are the strengths and weaknesses of your club?” Having been in Rotary almost as long as Pete, I have heard many people say many of the same things, in slightly different ways. But in reflecting on the meeting with Pam, some interesting comments and observations came out, which prompted this article.

“What does a prospective Rotarian look like?”

You can come up with a number of traits, but one thing that is consistent is that we are
all different. Despite many common reasons for being in Rotary, each of us has our own
background, our own individual buttons that inspire or aggravate us, our own opinion as to what, and how, things should be done; and we each come to the meeting with our own life situations, good and bad, outside Rotary.

“Who Makes Our Club?”

Xvxn though my typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll xxcxpt for onx of thx
kxys. I havx wishxd many timxs that it workxd pxrfxctly. It is trux that thxrx arx forty-six
kxys that function wxll xnough, but just onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx.
You may say to yoursxlf, "W xll, I am only onx pxrson. I won't makx or brxak our club."
To bx xffxctivx, Rotary rxquirxs thx participation of xvxry mxmbxr. So thx nxxt timx you think you arx only onx pxrson and your xfforts arx not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr my typxwritxr and say to yoursxlf, "I am a kxy pxrson in this Club and I am nxxdxd vxry much."

“As we are, Who we are, and Where we are.”

As different as we are, and as sometimes occupied with interests outside Rotary as we can be, one of the real strengths of this club (as I see it) is our acceptance of each other:
“As, Who and Where we are,” with no strings attached. Some have and are able to give more time, more talent, more money; but no one is any less important or less significant in any way. And every member is just as vital to our success as the broken “e” is to the typewriter above.