| ||
| ||
When one part of the body hurts, all the parts of the body share in the pain. On March 29, 2022 members of Buffalo Sunrise Rotary club welcomed our newest affiliates, the East Side Satellite Rotary Club of Buffalo at their chartering ceremony. We were excited and happy to have new partners in service. Less than two months later on May 14, 10 members of their Jefferson Avenue community were murdered at a TOPS market. Courageously, the co-chairs of East Side Satellite, Karen Saxon and Hope Isom joined in our ZOOM meeting just three short days later, on May 17. Their message was one of great pain: “We are not okay” and a strong resilience to move forward somehow. This response is characteristic of the tight knit community they represent.Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise President Patricia Johnson put it this way: "Our hearts are with you. Our members are devastated by the tragic and horrendous event that took place . . . Our Buffalo community lost some outstanding people: mothers, fathers, grandparents, faith and community leaders. I'm sure that some of the victims were friends, and the pain has to be nearly overwhelming. Our prayers are with you.” Buffalo Sunrise has pledged support for a donation to an organization on the East Side that provides healthy and locally sourced food. Additionally, Buffalo Sunrise will join in support of whatever project the East Side Satellite Club suggests to help that suffering community rebuild and renew. We are together in service, support and love.
Reprinted Letter from the Rotary Club of Georgetown, TX
TO: District Governor Anne Bermingham and Rotarians in Rotary District 7090
FROM: Racial Unity Committee, Rotary Club of Georgetown, TX
RE: Tragedy in Buffalo, NY
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
Please accept our heartfelt and sincere condolences for the recent tragedy inflicted on the members of the Buffalo, New York Community.
We have become aware that a substantial segment of the population of Buffalo has been working for many years in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We have become aware of the significant institutional racism, both in Buffalo and nationwide, that has made these efforts so critical and necessary. This tragedy, sadly, demonstrates how far we have to go, not just in Buffalo, but throughout our country. Our own efforts within central Texas Rotary began just two years ago after the murder of George Floyd. Our mission and vision statements reflect our desire to spread this message of peace to other Rotary clubs in our district and beyond. In line with the Rotary International Peace statement, “We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life.”
We welcome the opportunity to work with Buffalo Rotarians to bring about racial unity among all Rotarians and the world beyond.
We stand in solidarity with you in the pain of your loss. If we can, in any way, support your efforts at peacebuilding and racial unity, we hope you will reach out.
In Rotary Service for Peace,
Ron Swain,
Convener Racial Unity Committee, Rotary Club of Georgetown, TX Ronlswain48@gmail.com
CC: DG Beverly Luedke DGE Shannon Coleman
Nathan Winstead, Club President Cathleen Phelps, Club President-Elect Members of the Racial Unity Committee