LCP James Fielding
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Twenty-one years passed when my wife got hitched with Rotary. She became Club President in her first year and chartered another club four years after in 2005. By then I was just a quiet observer and spectator.
Years rolled on and she tirelessly continued to be committed and devoted her spare time to various Rotary programs and projects. As she became engrossed with the activities, there were instances when she had to travel out of town and whenever she was around, she spent late nights attending Rotary events.
I was not at all surprised by her dedication to charity as she started young, actually in her college years reaching out and helping the communities in her hometown.
It was not until six years after that I began to join the club’s advocacies in the implementation of its notable goals and objectives. Our only daughter has been constantly her chaperon on night events like Handovers, District Conference, Awards night, inductions, and similar occasions.
In the year 2017, I became an official member of the club, after persistent prodding from my family. I became aware of how Rotary has become the leading charity organization all over the world. The series of questions and hesitancy on my part has been set aside and thought of supporting the club as much as I can. Several Presidents and Club Officers had managed the club’s pursuits as the club moved forward to fulfill its purpose and target aspirations.
As the pandemic knocked off the whole world affecting all types of endeavors, may they be family, businesses, health care programs, I understood that for me to significantly matter in other people’s lives, I should not continue to just be a voiceless bystander. I have to lead and be a leader. The goading of the club members for me to become President paid off. Rotary Year 2021 – 2022 is the year that change can happen not only in my life but in the club as well. “Serve to Change Lives” is an appropriate theme for this time, when everything is changing.
Early this year, we had a club planning to map things out, establish certain effectual modifications on how we conduct a systematic approach in dealing with the transition and transformation of the club’s goals, processes, or technologies. Implementation is the keyword in our future efforts to achieve desirable results and impact.
If Covid 19 has been an equalizer, all people being equal, rich or poor, the infection has been spreading like wildfire with no exemption, on my part, I want to be the catalyst for whatever differences that exist within the club and at the same time the implementor. This, however, I cannot do alone without the cooperation of my club members and they being the other lifeline of a healthy organization to survive.
“The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant”. —Max DePree