Gov. Rivkin gave a presentation focusing on Rotarians who believe in the Power of One and, as a result, have made a difference. First he gave the example of Norm Hillis, a banker and member of the Rotary Club University District in Washington State, who with the help of other club members, developed a program to locate produce across the state that was going to waste, recover it, and distribute it to the needy in Seattle. The program is now known as Rotary First Harvest.

 

Next, Rick gave the example of the Rotary Club of Wellinborough, Hatton in the UK responding to the needs of refugees displaced by the Croatian War of Independence. At the initiative of member Bob Parfitt, the club distributed more than 50 tons of needed aid in 1994 to those suffering as a result of the war.

 

Thereafter, the club made dozens of trips to the region over the next 10 years distributing needed supplies.

 

Closer to home, Rotarian Darlene Gibson of the Charlotte South Park Rotary Club enlisted her club’s help in distributing backpacks filled with school supplies and nutritional snack to Montclaire Elementary School, a local Title I school. The club provides backpacks to students each summer, twice-monthly weekend snack bags for 100 children, large holiday baskets during long school breaks, and more.

 

Rick gave another example of Rotary service. The Greater Huntsville Rotary Club in Alabama saw children needing eye care. In 2004 the club established a Rotary Education Assistance Program to provide free eye care to children in more than 40 schools in the Huntsville City School System. The club negotiated with a local eye care clinic to provide exams and glasses at a 75 percent savings to the club.

 

Rick also shared the story of a non-Rotarian, an Australian boy named Mac Miller, who started a program called Play it Forward, which raises money to provide soccer balls to kids around the world.

 

The incoming District Governor in Bangladesh heard about Mac and offered to provide $5,000 if Mac could match it. Together, they provided $10,000 for soccer balls for kids in Bangladesh. Mac has also received support from his local club in Brisbane.

 

Rick provided other examples of Service Above Self and The Power of One. In concluding, Rick urged us to end the existence of “RINOs” – Rotarians in Name Only – and to be of service to others.

 

At the close of the presentation, Brad honored Rick with a donation to the Evanston Public Library, Rotary Book of Readings: Inspiration to Change the World, by the Rotary Club of Hobart, Ind.