Today I was greatly surprised and honored to receive the Rotarian of the Year Award from the Rotary Club of Fishers, Indiana.
For those of you who don't know, Rotary International is a world-wide organization of over 1.2 million business, professional, and community leaders in over 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. Clubs are nonpolitical, nonreligious, and open to all cultures, races, and creeds. Members of Rotary clubs, known as Rotarians, provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world.
Rotary’s main objective is Service Above Self — in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world. Rotary is greatly respected for it's highly successful initiative to eradicate Polio. Recently, the Bill and Melinda Gate Foundation gave a $255 million dollar grant for ending polio. This is the largest single donation EVER given to any non-profit, humanitarian organization.
I'm very proud to a part of this organization and I am greatly honored to receive this award from my peers in this community. I am humbled, grateful and thankful for their belief in who I am and what I stand for.
I was so surprised to hear my name announced I was rendered nearly speechless (can you believe it). After the presentation moment ended and I went back to my seat, I immediately wished my mind and mouth had been quick enough to express the real convictions of my heart. That one is too small a number for greatness. That no one can do it alone. That what has been accomplished this year is a result of the synergy and compounding influence of a great team.
Let me tell you of some of the incredible people I get to serve with and the gratitude I have for them.
1) I would not have received this award had it not been for then-President Tom Branum, Jr. who caught the vision and has been the spokesperson for the Water is Life Project. He took something that was in my heart and became the real champion for this vision. He is a terrific leader, a great listener, and as I tell him often, "one of the finest 'cat-herders' I’ve ever seen." He has led us cats well this last Rotary year. Tom, words do not express how proud I am of you.
2) Without the talent and abilities of George Wiley, the vision of the Water is Life Project would have never grabbed the hearts of so many people. He was rightly honored by the Club with a Paul Harris Fellowship for his video and website work. I’m his boss at Heartland Church, but all his work comes from the heart and with 100% effort. That’s a gift he gives freely and I’m very proud to serve with him.
3) I’m grateful for the invitation by Corby Thompson to join our club. He introduced me to the Fishers Rotary Club in 2001 so I owe him a lot..more than he probably realizes.
4) We have an amazing club full of deserving people who "get it" and contribute in their own special way. The Water is Life project is a team effort. I think of all those vision meetings, planning meetings, impromptu conversations and extra presentations. I want to thank Valory Myers who served as Club President the year before Tom. The culture she cultivated methodically each week to serve and make the world better really inspired me to be a better Rotarian and commit to a higher level. I’m also very grateful to Bill Jerrow, Diane Eaton, Brian Lott, David Cranor, and incoming Club President Michelle Sybesma and the many others who sacrificed their time and energy over and above their regular Rotary obligations to lay the ground work of support. Again without their efforts, Water is Life would have never lifted off the ground.
5) I also want to thank Dr. JoAnne Lyone, founder of World Hope International who invited me to travel with her to Sierra Leone and see the need of this special country. I'm grateful to the first groups of people who traveled with me, sacrificially taking the time to expose their hearts and lives to the great need in one of the poorest places on the planet. Their stories and experiences have fueled the vision and caused this powerful ripple of love and generosity to happen: David Cranor, Amie LoPresti, Diane Lott, Jenn Makulusky, Vincent Manganello, Lacey Moore, Lindsay Moore, Jordyn Scheske, Nick Scheske, George Wiley.
As I think about this amazing year of service with such wonderful people, I think, "Who am I that I should receive honor?" I’m just part of telling a story of what could be and what ought to be. The real heroes are every single person who has given sacrificially. The real heroes are those who dig the wells and go into the villages and do the work of making dreams real. It’s action that counts in the end and every well we create will change the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people.
In the end we are about something much bigger than ourselves. Any gifts I have been given came from my Father in heaven, so any success in my life must be offered back to him. I’m just trying to listen to him, obey his promptings, and get in on what he is blessing. I want to give myself completely to his mission in the world to love people well, one life at a time.
I think of the time I spent in Africa and the life-changing news of generosity and love that thousands of people will receive that says, “Yes, we care!” Proverbs 25:25 says, “Good news from far away is like cold water to the thirsty.”
To my Fishers Rotary Club Family ... I love you all. Thank you for this great honor. In only increases my passion to serve with you here and around the world.
The future of Rotary is in our hands.
If you would like to learn more about Water is Life, or make a contibution, please visit, www.waterislife.tv.*
*"Water Is Life" is a project of the Rotary Club of Fishers, Indiana. Donations will go through the District 6560 World Community Service Foundation, or through Fishers Rotary Club for the benefit of "Water Is Life". Tax status, intentions of the donations, and information regarding the donor will determine where checks are written. All donations and fundraising will meet Rotary International Guidelines and are subject to outside audit -- for transparency and integrity of the project's stewardship of funds donated.
Comments