July 1 marks the beginning of the Rotary year. All over the world, Rotarians will be saying thank you to those officers who have guided their local clubs and district organizations for the last 12 months.
As the incoming president of the Wausau Early Birds Rotary Club, I am among those who are thankful for the members and leaders who have come before me, and their vision and leadership, which has helped make Rotary International the world’s leading service organization.
We are fortunate in the Wausau area to have so many outstanding service organizations and we are also thankful for all these groups do for our community. Rotary, however, occupies a unique position among service groups because of its history and extensive international reach.
Rotary is a global network of over 35,000 clubs and 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.
Most recently, the Rotary Club of Wausau, which meets on Monday at noon, and the Wausau Early Birds Rotary, which meets Thursday mornings at 7, collaborated to fund a $3,000 Rotary COVID-19 Response Grant, including a match by Rotary District 6220, to the Marathon County Hunger Coalition. This grant was used to provide meals over the period of three weekends for 400 students and families in need in seven rural Marathon County communities, including Marathon, Edgar, Athens, Colby, Abbotsford, Spencer and Hatley. Food for this program was also purchased from local grocery stores and suppliers, contributing to the local economy as well.
People of action who unite in support of projects that make a difference in their communities and throughout the world: That’s what Rotary is and that’s what Rotary does.
While COVID-19 has temporarily forced both local Rotary clubs to meet online, they continue to thrive. With the work of Rotary never being more important than now, there are definitely opportunities for those interested to become part of a vibrant organization that is rising to the occasion to continue its important projects.
If you would like more information on involvement, please visit the Wausau Early Birds Rotary website at http://www.wausauearlyrotary.org/ or email me at [email protected].
Dave Anderson, president-elect, Wausau Early Birds Rotary Club
Editor’s note: Wausau Pilot & Review gladly publishes commentary from readers, residents and candidates for local offices. The views of readers and columnists are independent of this newspaper and do not necessarily reflect the views of Wausau Pilot & Review. To submit, email [email protected] or mail to 500 N. Third St., Suite 208-8, Wausau, Wis. 54403.
