My wife and I have been travelling in Southern California in the weeks just after the Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles in June. It was, by the way, a great meeting with top-quality entertainment and logistical preparation. Well done to all who worked to make it happen!
As we have been moving up and down the coast we have had an opportunity to visit Rotarians both in their clubs and in their homes. We are ever reminded of the wonderful fellowship that exists in our close-knit “Family of Rotary.”
We have also been able to share the ideals of Rotary to a vast array of “not yet Rotarians” because we wear our Rotary Wheel on our clothing – both casual and business – and have had people ask us “What is Rotary?” Because we have identified ourselves as Rotarians we have the opportunity to share the fellowship of Rotary with others.
One of the greatest aspects of Rotary Fellowship is having complete strangers walk up to us and identify themselves as members of the local Rotary Club in their part of the Rotary World. Business executives, police officers, university professors and medical practitioners stop us in restaurants, shopping malls and even on the street and ask us which Rotary Club we represent. They are usually surprised to find that we are from Zambia, but all are eager to talk about Rotary and give us their business card so we can “talk water” when we return home.
This is a reminder to one and all that wearing the Rotary pin, badge, hat or any other indentifying mark is an important part of Rotary Fellowship. Let people know who you are and let’s all “Make Dreams Real!”
YIR,
PGC
28 August 2008 at 5:11 am |
Dear Mr. Patrick Coleman:
I am a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship applicant from the United States, and was interested in studying abroad in Malawi. I have been unable to find the mailing address to Rotarians in Malawi. Do you have their mailing address? I would very much like to contact them. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Stephen Wulff
18 December 2008 at 1:35 pm |
Patrick,
I am a member (and immediate past president) of Inverness Culloden Rotary Club, Scotland.
We have in recent years funded the building of toilets at a school in the Dedza District of Malawi and currently are in the process of part funding the appointment of a programme Development officer working with LINK Community Development. This person will also look after and report on any Rotary funded project.
We have been approached by a Swedish Rotary Club (Gota Kanal) with a view to undertaking a joint water project in Africa and to this end three of us from the club are going out to Malawi next May (2009) to look at possible projects.
We are currently trying to make contact with a Rotary club in Lilongwe which, if successful, will make a huge difference to our ability to administer Rotary grants for any viable project we decide to do.
However we are finding it difficult to find any contact e-mail addresses and I should be grateful if you could pass my details to someone in the Lilongwe club who would be prepared to act initially as advisor for travel/accommodation etc whilst there but later as our matching grant contact.
Looking forward to hearing from you and/or Lilongwe club.
In the meantime may I wish you, your family and club a wonderful Christmas and successful New Year.
Derek McRae
e-mail : derek_mcrae@hotmail.com