The Passion Newsletter, September Issue, 2019 2The Passion newletter September 2019 | Page 23

ROTARY: A SCHOOL OF PHILANTHROPISTS The inception of Rotary dates back in the early 1900s (23rd February 1905); starting as a small idea, resonating in a one witty lawyer’s (Paul Harris) mental sky, in downtown Chicago, it’s to date the world’s largest international service organization. From rotational meetings around offices of a few professionals to fun-filled and educative club fellowships across the globe. It connects myriad of humanitarians, all inspired by the burning zeal to better their milieu through voluntary service and extend a smile to those inconsolable. Those covered up in a mist of despondence, hopeless that they will see light of the next day. Rotary isn’t confined to service. Building leadership skills, professional development, fun, and global connections are dividends that come along it as well. Rotarians are people richer at heart than pockets; their demeanour bribes many minds to think they earn more than they need, thus have surplus to offer. However, they just stretch their giving hand hard enough to touch longing souls for hope. They have allowed for hypertrophy of their giving- heart-chambers, to send more blood to this hand’s muscles. It never suffers atrophy. I prefer calling them philanthropists to their conventional name (Rotarians) because it vehemently befits their characters. Rotary confers a school through which this noble character is cultured. But it’s not only Rotarians that make up the bloc; at their backs are Rotaractors and interactors. For the Johnnies-come-lately and the unprimed, Rotary is a transitional organization, with age-placed borders, putting each of these groups into their niches of a greater ecosystem of ‘service above self’. A Rotarian must be above 30 years old, a Rotaractor between 18 and 30 years and interactors below 18 years. Rotarians are grown and their levels of vibrancy keep lowering with age; this compelled creation of Rotaract which translates ‘rotary in action’ to spice up the organization with the energy and vibrancy of this young blood. The high level of structural organization informs your conscious of how intellect this fraternity is. People of action coalesced around a central idea of serving humanity ramified into six different areas of focus: Disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, peace and conflict resolution, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development. These areas, in a nutshell, summarize the vast work Rotary executes in our communities, creating an aura of peace, literacy, love, and well-being. The wellsprings of love at the heart of this fraternity flow into an endless river of humour from which our communities draw waters of hope. Rotarians deploy their ingenuity to innovation to solve the world’s pressing challenges. You can’t talk about polio eradication around the world and erase rotary in the picture. Today, you and I, aren’t crippled due to polio because heavenly-hearted souls formed and magnanimously contribute to a Rotary foundation, which with a joint hand of Bill & Melinda gates foundation, provide polio vaccines. It has eradicated up to 99.9% of this world’s dreaded killer disease; making it a fairy tale and part of historical narratives to tell our grandchildren in the future. The foundation has grown from an initial contribution of US$26.50 to more than US$1billion, channelled back to communities through global and district grants for projects. This cites the subtleness of the enormous work Rotary has done and continues to do. Exploring more is left to your discretion. Noteworthy, always these people standout tall in all spheres of life within the societies they thrive! But even the bible states, “It’s more blessed to give than receive”, what the Lord says, who can deny? They keep taping into the baskets of heavenly blessings, for they live in cognizance of the almighty God. I can only accuse this fraternity of its immense kindness but I will live to remember the day I made a prudent decision to join rotary; to being human rather than a human being only. Kanyike Andrew Marvin Connect Membership Director Rotaract club of Busitema University, Mbale [email protected] Rotaract District 9211 District 9211 The Passion Bulletin 23