The Power of the Rotary Networking

We all know Rotary can raise money and as a result we fund some very worthwhile projects.  I believe, however, the most powerful aspect of Rotary is the Rotary network - not only of Rotarians but also their connections.  Through these contacts, you can certainly make your Rotary activities and programs and ambitions happen but better still, they will help you open almost any door in the world.  This was brought home forcefully on our most recent Sweat Equity Trip to Malawi.

 

Here are a few examples. 

 

 We are partners with the Limbe Club in the Water Project which when finished will provide 150-175 new or refurbished wells in the Zomba area.  They are also our partner in the 13-seat ambulance given to Dignitas and delivered while we were there.

 

On our weekend excursion to Lake Malawi, we stayed at the Cap Mac Lodge arguably the nicest place in Cape MacLear.  You guessed it - the owner is a Rotarian.  He now divides his time between Paris and Algeria and is a member of a club in Algeria.  Because we were a Rotary group doing humanitarian work, he gave us a 50% discount.

 

Jackie Davies unfortunately fell and broke her ankle and wrist while we were there.  She was taken to a hospital in Blantyre owned and run by a British Charitable Trust.  The CEO is a Rotarian in the Limbe Club.  While there,  Jackie received excellent care.

 

We attended a Rotary meeting at the Limbe Club.  The guest speaker was the former #2 person in the US Embassy in Pakistan and now is the American Ambassador to Malawi.  He has been a Rotarian in several clubs including in Katmandu.

 

Before going to Malawi, Tom Sears of the Campbellford Club and I went to Gulu in Northern Uganda.  This was done as a follow up to the request by Samantha Nutt of War Child for Rotary to partner in their work with people who had been displaced because of the 23-year civil war.  While there, we had dinner with several Rotarians, a teacher at a medical school in Gulu, the senior administrator at the university and the head of a malaria organization as well as the Ugandan head of War Child.  As a result, the Rotarians are delivering a new wheelchair to a polio victim we met living in an Internal Displaced Camp and are repairing a sewing machine so a widowed lady could generate income and support her 2-year-old son.  Tom and I paid for both.  My share was given to me by my daughter, Jennifer as a birthday present to be spent in a helpful way.  In addition, we will probably do some joint work with the Gulu Club and War Child and Saad Karim, the War Child Director, is considering membership.

 

While in Zomba, Malawi, we experienced an electrical blackout almost every day or night.  Fortunately, the hotel provided candles and matches.  The matches were made by the Leopard Match Company in Blantyre.  This company is owned in part and run by Peter Barratt, a member of the Limbe Club and the head of their International Service Committee - a person we have interfaced with on many of our international projects.

 

You do not have to go 20,000 km to make these connections as you can virtually walk into any of the 32,000 clubs in the world and be warmly welcomed by 1 or more of our 1.2 million members all of whom are a vital members of their community and share the same values of Service Above Self.  What other organization in the world can offer that?