Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem solvers who come together to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad. Over the years, Rotarians have taken on global causes ranging from literacy and peace to water and health.
Many local initiatives are happening right around us! Scholarships for high school students, cleaning up of local parks and gifts of time, talent and treasure to a wide variety of nonprofit organizations are all the foundation of the Club’s motto: “Service Above Self”
I joined the efforts of the Chesterton-Porter Rotary Club as a way to give back to the community I grew up in. Today, I bring you the Region’s Rotary Round-Up to shine a light on all the great things happening at Clubs in and around NW Indiana!
Here’s your Rotary Recap:
Today was a special occasion for the Portage Rotary Club and I was lucky enough to be invited to the party! Rotarians from across Northern Indiana came together at Neighbor’s Educational Opportunities (NEO) to celebrate the one-year anniversary since the rechartering of the Club.
President, Walter Lenckos, said, “This represents a tremendous amount of effort on behalf of a lot of people. Many of those people are here with us tonight; this is a party to say thank you for all that you have done! In the last year, we donated to the Hannah’s Hope playground project, Gabriel’s Horn, the Portage Backpack Program, and the S.T.E.M, Program at the Boys & Girls Club. We sent two students to RYLA [Rotary Youth Leadership Awards], participated in United Way’s Day of Caring, supported the United Way RSVP Program [Retired Seniors Volunteer Program], and did a Walk to End Polio all in our first year!”
A delicious taco bar was made available courtesy of Leroy’s Hot Stuff while Bounce-N-Around brought the fun with an inflatable obstacle course, bouncy house, corn-hole, and more, making fun for the whole family. Some of the adults even tried their hand, err, bodies at the obstacle course too!
District Governor, Lisa Waterman, came out from Fort Wayne for the event. When asked to say a few words, Lisa stated, “Events like these just go to show you that a committed group of people can make a phenomenal difference in the communities where they are based. I stand proud of the Portage Rotary’s accomplishments!”
She asked that everyone join hands and continued, “That is exactly what you have done this past year and I along with all of our district representatives are so proud of this group! Remember that Rotary makes a difference every day. Thank you!”
It only takes one person to make a difference, but if you can take that motivation and inspire others to join you, the possibilities are endless. I’ve been a Rotarian for almost 3 years now and it never ceases to amaze me the amount of good that can be done when a group of like-minded people come together. It brings me back to a Winston Churchill quote that says, “We make a life by what we get, but we make a living by what we give.”
The Portage Rotary Club meets Tuesdays at 12:00 PM at Neighbor’s Educational Opportunities (NEO) 5201 US-6, Portage, IN 46368. Interested in joining a Rotary Club near you? Send me an email: candace@greatnews.life and I’ll help connect you!