Guest View: Club gives back to community and to the world

Editor’s note: The Charles City Rotary Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary in the community this month with a special event on Oct. 22. A few club members are offering their perspectives on club membership leading up to that date.

By Kelsey Forsyth, Charles City

I joined Rotary when I moved back to Charles City in 2015.  I was excited to be back in the community and give back as much as I could, and after one meeting with Rotary, I knew I needed to join.

My favorite thing about Rotary is definitely the friendships I have made that I never would have if I wasn’t a part of the organization.  I have gotten to know people with many different professions, backgrounds and interests, and it has been a lot of fun to work next to them and get to know them while doing different service projects.

Since I have been a part of the club, I have been involved in distributing fire extinguishers, first aid kits, and planting trees around Charles City.

My favorite project so far has been the tree planting project because we worked with various groups in the community to make it happen and I honestly learned a lot doing it.  I am proud to drive around Charles City when I see those trees and know that I am a part of the organization that took that on.

I currently serve on the board of directors of the Charles City Rotary Club. I also am on the Public Image Team for Rotary District 5970, which the Charles City club is a part of.

I traveled to a leadership summit on behalf of District 5970 and had the privilege to listen to many guest speakers and programs, including many Rotarians from around the world.

To listen to Rotary’s mission from experienced Rotarians was very eye-opening to me and made me proud to be a part of this. It helped to see Rotary as a whole and motivated me to continue to do more.

I most recently received my first Paul Harris Fellow recognition at our Pass the Buck night in June 2018. (The Paul Harris Fellowship is awarded to those Rotarians who have contributed $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, to be used to support the organization’s efforts worldwide.)   

Rotary does so much worldwide that I know I am not even aware of half of it. However, the thing that makes me most proud is how hard our local club works together to get any sort of project or job done.

No matter what it is, people always show up to better our community and we work hard to do it right. It is a great way to be involved, but we also have fun doing it.

The things Rotary does today in the community and the world makes me proud to be part of the organization. From raising funds, making donations and completing service projects, we continue to prove the words that we live by, our Four Way Test – Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

I cannot think of a better way to give back to my community and back to the world then by being in Rotary.