“Wherever you turn, you can find someone who needs you. Even if it is a little thing, do something for which there is no pay but the privilege of doing it. Remember, you don’t live in the world all of your own.”
~Albert Schweitzer
~Albert Schweitzer
What better reminder that we aren't alone in this world than belonging to an international organization? You might wonder how you can give back through Rotary and what kind of commitment is required for our members though. Let's talk about that!
Rotary used to have all kinds of rules. Rules about attendance. Rules about when members meet. Rules about who could join based on their job title. And did you know we didn't allow women into Rotary until 1987, in a case that went to the Supreme Court? Yeah, not our proudest moment. But we've come a long way since then - 53% of the Baldwinsville Rotary Club is female! The rules are really a thing of past now. We don't have attendance requirements. We offer two meetings each week and often have other events, so you have a lot of options for how you can be active in Rotary. We also don't have limitations on who can join in terms of their profession, although we always want diversity among our members because it brings a lot of skills to the table! All of this lawlessness means flexibility for our members.
Still not sure what that would mean for you, a potential new member? It means you can give back in ways big and small. You can attend every meeting, join every committee and become club president. We'd love someone who goes that big, but that's just not realistic for most people when it comes to the time commitment! It also means you could join, attend when you can and find a niche project to work on, like our Backpack Project that provides food to elementary school children at risk of hunger each weekend. We think that once you get to know our group, you will want to come to meetings. We also know you will enjoy opportunities to give back in meaningful ways, like cleaning up the river trail for Earth Day or helping schedule a day of free, family-friendly activities for Seneca River Days. We have projects that are just a couple hours of your time and some that take months of planning and teamwork. It's your call!
No need to feel overwhelmed that someone needs you "wherever you turn." There is a team of volunteers out there to help. And "even if it is a little thing," you can do that through Rotary! But just a warning - there will definitely be "no pay!"