July 26, 2007
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In my new role as Rotary District 7550 Trainer, I attended a two day meeting of the Multidistrict PETS (President Elect Training Sessions) Alliance in Evanston, IL. Our meetings were held in the Rotary International World Headquarters building there. The 18 story building was very impressive, complete with flags representing the over 32,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries around the world. Rotary International purchased the building for $26 million and paid off the mortgage in only four years by renting the lower 11 floors to area businesses. To date, they continue to rent the lower floors. We were fortunate to tour the building on Friday morning, prior to the beginning of our meeting.
The interior of the building reflects the commitment of Rotarians around the world that have and continue to support the motto of Rotary International, "Service Above Self." On the 16th floor, there is a replica of the office of Gus Loehr, a mining engineer. Two small rooms depict his work space (complete with original furniture and office equipment) and the work space for his secretary. It was in his office on the 7th floor of the Chicago Unity Building that the first Rotary meeting was held on February 23, 1905. Lawyer Paul Harris had invited coal dealer, Sylvester Schiele and merchant tailor, Hiram Shorey to meet with them “to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth.” And, thus Rotary was born. There is a life-size bronze statue of Paul Harris near a room which houses items from his office, and I actually got to “shake” his hand.
The 17th floor is covered with pictures and plaques that show the donors and supporters of Rotary International. It was exciting to see the picture of a West Virginia Couple who are part of the Arch Klumph Society. Arch Klumph was Rotary International's Sixth President and created "an endowment fund for Rotary . . . for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational, and other avenues of community service." A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri. Today, a donation of $250,000 or more is needed to become a member of this society. There are also plaques that show the clubs that are 100% Paul Harris Fellows in membership. To become a Paul Harris Fellow, a Rotarian must contribute or have contributed in his name, $1,000 to the Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation. The southern half of West Virginia has three 100% PHF clubs!
The 18th floor houses the offices of the President, President Elect, Secretariat and the Board Room where the Rotary International Directors meet several times each year. I actually stood in the office of the President; currently, Rotary International's President is Wilfred Wilkinson from the Rotary Club of Trenton, Ontario. The Board room is complete with televisions that connect directors and trustees from around the world during the meetings. There is also a special room for the interpreters that are needed during each session. The atmosphere is truly international!
Rotary celebrated their 100th birthday in 2005, and did so by circulating Centennial Rotary Bells throughout the world. Five bells traveled to thousands of Rotary meetings and are now displayed along with the journals that detail their journeys beside the large cast Centennial Bell which commemorated the birthday celebration.
Our meeting opened on Friday afternoon with a welcome speech from Rotary International President Elect, D. K. Lee from the Rotary Club of Seoul Hangang, Korea. The meeting was attended by Rotarians responsible for training Club President Elects in almost 150 districts in the United States and Mexico, representing over 7,000 Rotary Clubs. The Multi District PETS Alliance had its first meeting in 1999 with 27 participants from 15 combined PETS; this year's meeting had 62 participants from 25 combined PETS. The knowledge, expertise, and resources shared represent years of experience and learning. I left the two-day session with new friends, new knowledge, and new resources to give our Club President Elects the best training possible for their year in service to their individual club.
The trip was tiring, and yet, the experience gave a new depth to the meaning of Rotary. We have a rich history of people who are committed to helping those in need, wherever they are. And, I was honored to share two days with some of them.
-- Mary Keely