THE END IS NIGH
Soon enough, my term as president will come to an end. I think about the goals we reached, and the ones we missed. I think about what went right and want went, well, not as right as we would have liked. If I never have to lead a Zoom-hybrid meeting, I do not think I'll mind, but I hope at least a few people will miss the levity I tried to bring, especially when the technology went pfft! again.
Why do we change presidents, anyway? After all, there are a few old timers who could keep everything rolling smoothly along, just fine. The reason is that Rotary clubs are as resistant to change as any organization. Perhaps more than some, when half the membership is over 70. If we did not force ourselves, we'd get so set in our ways that we'd never change, and without change, we'd never grow, we'd never adapt, and we'd die.
Once upon a time, Shrimp Fest was a private event in a bar in downtown Lenexa. Club members either brought their own drinks, or bought books of tickets to meet the relatively dry county laws. The members' kids played on the floor and wives were only allowed as guests. Later it became a community event and some of those kids grew up and ran it. Post-COVID, we adapted again, making it a close and personal event. Who knows what it will be next year.
But we'll adapt, because our club embraces change, even when it doesn't always look like us.
βMann Tracht, Un Gott Lachtβ is the old Yiddish proverb which has been the theme of my year as president: βMan Plans, and God Laughs.β Well, my year is almost up, and I look forward to sitting back and laughing, too.
Lenexa, KS 66220
United States of America