Giving Back Through Rotary

When I worked in the corporate world most of my volunteer time was taken up by more business focused organizations, I continually gave money to various charities and organizations but my time primarily was given to the business associations. Since leaving the corporate world I wanted to volunteer for something that gave back to people who are less fortunate.

There are many organizations that could use my time and money. I did not want an organization that benefited a particular religious affiliation. I did some research and asked some of my friends, mentors, and colleaguesin oreder  to create a list of possible organizations. Through this due diligence, my decision was easy. I joined the Frisco Sunrise Rotary Club.  If you ever looked into the Rotary to become a Rotarian you would find a remarkable organization.

History

The Rotary Club has more than 1.2 million members world wide. It was founded by a Chicago attorney named Paul P. Harris. It was one of the first service organizations in the world. The first Rotary club was founded on February 23 1905 in Chicago. The members consisted of professionals who with a diverse background shared ideas and formed meaningful lifelong friendships. In fact the name Rotary came from rotating the meetings among the offices of each of the members.

Eradicating Polio

In 1979, Rotary began their fight to eradicate Polio. The first project was focuses on immunizing 6 million children in the Philippines. As of 2012 there were only three countries remaining polio-endemic. That is down from 125 in 1988. Just think about that for a second. A volunteer organization that has a world wide impact eradicating a harmful disease like Polio is pretty impressive. As I continued to look into Rotary it became apparent that I fond an organization I could feel comfortable working with locally.

Famous Rotarians

Some famous Rotarians include: Warren G. Harding, Bill Gates, Dr. Charles H. Mayo, Guglielmo Marconi, Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Dianne Feinstein, Manny Pacquaio, and James Cash Penney. The list goes on and on. So the next time you find yourself looking to become a part of something great that continually gives back to the world, look up Rotary and find a local club. You will be welcomed with open arms and may find yourself with a new outlook and some great friends to share ideas.