Rotary - Changing lives through service

“This is more than a service club; we’re a family,” said Bosque Rotary Club president An Thompson.

Through service projects, Rotary impacts the community through service projects like their sock drive for the homeless, food bank projects, fundraising events like selling tickets for the upcoming circus in October and the annual golf tournament, which both benefit their scholarship program, and raffles to raise money to help fight polio overseas.

On Thursday, Sept. 2, Central Texas

On Thursday, Sept. 2, Central Texas Rotary 5870 District Governor Beverly Luedke visited the Bosque Rotary Club to help with strategic planning for upcoming and future projects, to share ideas and to invigorate members to inspire new growth.

The theme for this year’s Rotary International is Server to Change Lives.

“When the theme was introduced I can honestly tell you I got very tearful,” said Luedke. “When I thought about it, the most important word in the theme was ‘change.’ We as rotarians do that every day; we are changing lives every day.”

Luedke said as important as changing lives of those in the community and around the world was, the work done through Rotary changes its members as well.

Luedke shared her four hopes for the district she serves and how to continue to serve others through change.

“My first hope is to help you as rotarians to understand the importance of our foundation,” said Luedke.

District 5870 has a strong history of giving. Three years ago the district was number 11 out of 535 in the world in giving. foundation,” said Luedke. “It’s because we understand what foundation is all about. We can change lives every day because of the money we’ve given.”

Luedke said the district’s contributions has helped build medical clinics, libraries and schools where there were none before.

One of Luedke’s goals as district governor was to bring clean water to an area in the United States where there was none.

Outside Flagstaff, AZ, on a Navajo Reservation, families only get about six gallons of clean water per day.

“Can you imagine brushing your teeth, washing your clothes or yourself or cooking your food with just six gallons of water a day?” said Luedke.

On average Americans use 80 to 100 gallons per day per person.

“These families of five to 11 people only get six gallons per day, and that’s if they’re willing to travel five, 10 or 15 miles to the closest reservoir,” said Luedke.

Because of this need, Rotary is partnering with DigDeep, an organization that helps bring water to Americans who need it most.

“We will we be providing these families with clean water and helping them put food on the table, but most importantly we are restoring their dignity and selfworth,” said Luedke.

Luedke’s second hope is to help increase Rotary’s impact of service.

“COVID kinda kicked us in the butt,” said Luedke. “We became isolated and we couldn’t meet or do projects.”

Luedke designated $40,000 for projects in her district.

Her first project is based around hunger. The district is donating $10,000 to the Central Texas Food Bank and will allot money for local clubs to spend for food banks in their community.

“All we ask of you is to work volunteer in your local food bank,” said Luedke.

The second project is to help combat the silent predator that is human trafficking.

“It’s something you think is only happening in bigger communities, but I guarantee you human trafficking is happening in every community in our district,” said Luedke. “Whether you believe it or not, they are focusing on our schools.”

One way Rotary helps fight back against human trafficking is getting Interact Clubs in schools involved by initiating awareness.

The last project Luedke is focusing on is the environment. The district will be getting 33 metal benches that will come with a tree to plant in an impactful area of the community to help celebrate the environment.

“The more we do in our communities, the more we’re going to grow,” said Luedke. “When people see the positivity that we have and the good that we do, they will want to be a part of that.”

Luedke’s third hope is to help rotarians understand why they do what they do.

“This is one of the most important hopes I have for you,” said Luedke.

Luedke said when she became interested in joining Rotary, she was not approached by a member, but instead asked a member to take her.

“I understood that Rotary had all the movers and shakers in the community,” said Luedke. “I was starting a new business and I wanted the networking Rotary was going to give me. I wanted the clout Rotary would give me.”

Luedke said it wasn’t until she took a trip to Mexico as a member of Rotary that she realized it wasn’t about what Rotary could do for her, but what she could do for others.

Luedke’s group was giving out the gift of mobility – wheelchairs – to individuals when she noticed a couple come into the community center with their adult son who was affected by spastic cerebral palsy.

Luedke said he had never had a wheelchair and when he looked at his face after putting him in it, she realized this was why she was a rotarian.

“That’s what we do every day, whether we see it or not,” said Luedke. “We are changing lives and that’s what is important.”

“My fourth and very last hope for you is that you rekindle the energy we had before COVID,” said Luedke.

Luedke said rotarians need to step up and offer the opportunity of service to their community.

“You have to look beyond yourself and share that gift,” said Luedke. “As Helen Keller so eloquently said, ‘Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much.’”

Along with their service projects and scholarship programs, the Bosque Rotary Club also sponsors an Interact Club at Clifton High School and will sponsor a new charter at Valley Mills High School.

Other new projects for the Rotary Club will include helping with the international wheelchair project and providing shelter boxes to areas affected by disasters.

If you are interested in joining Rotary, come have lunch and visit with members to learn more. The club meets at noon every Thursday at the Clifton Civic Center.