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I recently heard Carlo Rovelli, professor of physics at Aix-Marseille University in Provence, France, talking about his new book, The Order of Time. The general theme of his interview is that all reality is interaction – that much of what we know is a series of happenings. To help frame his thoughts, Dr. Rovelli said,
A thing is something which remains equal to itself. A stone is a thing because I can ask where the stone is tomorrow, while a happening is something that is limited in space and time. A kiss is not a thing, because I cannot ask, where is a kiss, tomorrow; “Where is this kiss?” tomorrow. I mean, it's just happened now.
During the Club Leadership Academy, I attended a set of sessions lead by Vicki Puliz, RI Zone 25 Rotary Public Image Coordinator, and Steve Lingenbrink, RI Zone 25 Membership Advisory Chair, on membership growth and retention. A question that we discussed early in the sessions was: What is Rotary? There are three simple statements that answer that question.
We’re a membership organization of local business, professional and community leaders. Using Dr. Rovelli’s remarks, Rotary is a thing. In the first century of the Common Era, Plutarch asked whether a ship that had been restored by replacing every single wooden part remained the same ship. Many people agree that the ships in Plutarch’s thought experiment are qualitatively identical. By extension, Rotary is the same membership organization the each of us first joined.
We meet regularly, get to know each other, form friendships, and through that we’re able to get things done in this community. This is definitely true for Rotary Clubs that meet in-person or eClubs that have regularly schedules online meetings. We have a rich history of getting things done in communities around the world while struggling to get to know each other and create friendships. The availability of a meeting 24/7 allows members and guests learn of the happenings within our club, district, and around the Rotary world. This constant availability is our Achilles' heel because it requires each of us to be proactive in learning more about our fellow members. Since joining the ReCSWUSA board of directors as President-Nominee, I have created bonds of friendship that are strong as my friends from my former in-person Rotary Clubs. For that, I am truly grateful.
Rotarians are people of action. This is where ReCSWUSA needs you help to make it happen. The top two reasons that people join and stay with Rotary are friendships and local impact. As we wind down this Rotary year and spin up next year, members of President-Elect Óscar’s board will be reaching out to you for help in one or more of the Avenues of Service. I encourage you to agree and allocate time in your schedule so that you can build new friendships. Your participation could be the seed of a new wave of happenings for your Rotary Club. Let’s turn Rotary from a thing to a happening.
