Rik
Why Rik became a Rotarian
I think there are some common misconceptions regarding Rotary such as "it's just for old people", "just for men", "boring", "it's a lunch club", "I don't have time" or "it's not for me" - I'd like to dispell these and a few more.
I joined Rotary when I was looking for a new challenge, I'd spent over eleven years as a school governor the last four as Chair but felt I needed a break, and something where I could support a wider community. I had attended several Rotary social events and not just those aiming at raising money, we also have a great deal of fun doing other things - a few murder/mystery weekends spring to mind.
As a club we meet three times a month for an evening meal and normally have an interesting speaker, once a month the various committees meet. Attendance is optional but everyone has a great time and attends whenever possible.
Rotary is a worldwide organisation and wherever you travel you will meet fellow Rotarians and be welcomed at their clubs. As an organisation we have been the driving force behind the drive to eradicate polio, something that has now very nearly been achieved also helped by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But we also support many local charities as well - just follow the other links on this site.
I think one of the reasons that I joined Rotary was the realisation that if you want to help people it's much more effective if there is a team of you working together and Rotary is blessed with doers, people who want to help others, people who put others first and people who care - I like spending time with those kinds of people.
Now to answer some of those myths about Rotary - I am not retired, I am the EMEA Sales and Marketing Director for a Canadian software company. I'm also the Explorer Scout Leader at Polesden Explorer Scout Unit in Bookham and I play golf - Rotary won't steal all of your time but it could make your life more fulfilling.
If you feel you would like to make a difference both locally and overseas why not contact us and come along to an evening, talk with our members and hear what we do first hand - you might just enjoy it.
I joined Rotary when I was looking for a new challenge, I'd spent over eleven years as a school governor the last four as Chair but felt I needed a break, and something where I could support a wider community. I had attended several Rotary social events and not just those aiming at raising money, we also have a great deal of fun doing other things - a few murder/mystery weekends spring to mind.
As a club we meet three times a month for an evening meal and normally have an interesting speaker, once a month the various committees meet. Attendance is optional but everyone has a great time and attends whenever possible.
Rotary is a worldwide organisation and wherever you travel you will meet fellow Rotarians and be welcomed at their clubs. As an organisation we have been the driving force behind the drive to eradicate polio, something that has now very nearly been achieved also helped by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. But we also support many local charities as well - just follow the other links on this site.
I think one of the reasons that I joined Rotary was the realisation that if you want to help people it's much more effective if there is a team of you working together and Rotary is blessed with doers, people who want to help others, people who put others first and people who care - I like spending time with those kinds of people.
Now to answer some of those myths about Rotary - I am not retired, I am the EMEA Sales and Marketing Director for a Canadian software company. I'm also the Explorer Scout Leader at Polesden Explorer Scout Unit in Bookham and I play golf - Rotary won't steal all of your time but it could make your life more fulfilling.
If you feel you would like to make a difference both locally and overseas why not contact us and come along to an evening, talk with our members and hear what we do first hand - you might just enjoy it.
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