This week our District Governor, Michael Mayott, will visit Rotary Club of Great Falls. As is our tradition, we'll use the occasion to honor our local Paul Harris fellows. (Related story below) Let's show up strong to greet him and to honor our fellow Rotarians Tuesay at noon ... at the country club or on Zoom!
Recognizing Our Paul Harris Fellows
This week at Rotary we will recognize our Paul Harris Fellows. This recognition of those who have contributed $1,000 to Rotary International started in 1957. Our club has distinguished itself with fellowships and repeat fellowships over the years. This year will be no exception.
This year's honorees join the likes of U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Russian President Boris Yeltsin, U.S. astronaut James Lovell, UN Secretary-General Javier Perez de Cuellar, singer Pearl Bailey, and polio vaccine developer Jonas Salk. Pretty impressive group!
Service above Self
The Rotary motto is "service above self." We engage in concerted activity as a club to serve a variety of causes. We are doing that this weekend, staffing the beer tent at the first-ever Big River Ruckus, as a way to serve a good cause in our community. Thanks to Mike Wier for heading up the effort, and for all you Rotarians who volunteered to help.
Once you discover the value of service, it's hard to stop, as Rotarians show day after day, in Rotary and beyond it. Last week Art Taft and Kurt Baltrusch were taking a visiting friend on a bike ride and were disconcerted by the trash they saw en route. Art and Kurt returned later to clean up that stretch of trail. Service above self.
Sandy Filipowicz was busy honoring the service of others in our community at the YWCA Salute to Women event on Saturday night. Service above self.
You could find Rotarians helping out at the Big River Ruckus in more areas than the beer tent. Chuck Jennings and Kelley Aline were on hand at the Parks and Recreation Building Friday afternoon, preparing the bags for the luminaria walk. John Juras could be seen at the Arlyne Reichert Community Heritage Bridge, shepherding cyclists through this new phase of the River's Edge Trail. And, of course, behind the planning and organizing of the entire event was Sheila Rice, planner and organizer extraordinaire. Service above self.
It's more than a catch-phrase. It's a way of life.
Mark Your Calendars!
The “Campout at the Camp” scheduled for Sept. 18-19 has been canceled. That's the bad news. The good news is, that might clear up your calendar to participate in the 2021 International Peace Park Assembly. Originally championed by legendary Great Falls forefather H.B. Mitchell, this year the assembly will be conducted via Zoom. The program will begin on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 2 p.m. MDT. You can register at https://www.watertonglacierpeacepark.org/2021-peace-park-assembly.html
Milestones
Happy birthday today to Kelley Aline and Thursday to Sherrie Arey. Best of wishes from all of us to the two of you!
Words To Live - and Die - By
Father Mychal Judge's was the first body to be recovered and recorded as a victim of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. A chaplain to the New York Fire Department, he had just finished administering the last rites to a firefighter when the South Tower collapsed, engulfing him in a tsunami of debris. That morning, like every morning, he started his day with this prayer:
“Lord, take me where You want me to go. Let me meet who You want me to meet. Tell me what You want me to say. And keep me out of Your way.”
A remarkable man met his Maker that day. No need to keep out of His way any more.
