In 2004, having recently moved to San Diego, I needed to bolster my local professional network. While attending a Chamber of Commerce event I allowed myself to be persuaded to check out a single breakfast meeting of the RB Sunrise Rotary club.
Entering the room expecting a group of old men, I was pleasantly surprised to see men and women of various ethnic, political and religious persuasions, aged 25-85, sitting side-by-side and sharing the goal of improving their community.
Naturally, I immediately joined the group…and never left.
I’ll confess I joined Rotary in search of friends and business connections, but I stayed for the people. Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary is filled with dozens of genuine people who say what they mean without a hidden agenda. It’s a community of professionals who are always quick to offer help to anyone needing any kind of assistance.
Over the intervening years I’ve become part of this club’s fabric, helping to build houses for the homeless, distributing dictionaries, providing services to housebound seniors, and aiding disaster survivors half a world away. I’ve met amazing people I’d never have encountered any other way, and become active at the District and Regional levels.
And there’s no better feeling than knowing you’ve had a positive impact on others whom you may never see again. That’s why I’ve used my marketing skills to train thousands of Rotarians to communicate with their local communities. Whether I was leading seminars educating club presidents or one-on-one idea development, it’s been incredibly satisfying to know that I’ve played some small part in helping hundreds of Rotary clubs to improve their branding and strategic planning.
Just as the RB Sunrise Rotary raises hundreds of thousands of dollars that gets returned to the local neighborhood, it’s nice knowing I’m helping have a similar impact in a wider circle.
Joining Rotary has given me an opportunity to give something back to the community that’s given me a good life. And the relationships I’ve built over the years have helped to make my life even better, both personally and professionally.
Please plan to join me next Tuesday at the Rancho Bernardo Country Club. We meet at 7am, and I promise to have you out on the streets by 8:30. Or you can go to www.rbsunrise.org to learn more.
Whether you visit online or for breakfast, though, you’ll quickly discover the people are amazing, the organization has a global impact, and the experience of being involved with this group is one you’ll never forget.