Rotarians Helping Rotarians In Jamestown

Posted 
on May 31, 2009
 

Dear Governor Ralph

 

It is incredible what a Rotary Club can accomplish!

 

One of our members mentioned at our Monday meeting that the seven year-old son of a former member was going to be hospitalized in Pittsburg for several months for a liver transplant as the result of a childhood genetic problem with his own liver.  Pittsburg is about 2-1/2 hour drive away, and insurance does not cover transportation, housing for the visiting family members, or many other costs.  The family was under tremendous financial stress.

 

 

 

After the meeting, several members spontaneously discussed the need for a fundraiser.  One Rotarian, who runs a catering business, immediately volunteered to prepare a spaghetti dinner.  Another Rotarian, an accomplished professional musician, agreed to provide the entertainment.  A third Rotarian, the chairman of the largest local church, offered the church facilities.  Within minutes, we had arranged the dinner, the location, and the entertainment.  This is Rotary!

 

Within two days, one Rotarian had printed colored posters, another Rotarian had printed tickets, and yet another Rotarian had arranged for the local fire volunteer fire department and VFW to be co-sponsors.  Our Club treasurer opened a special bank account.  The local newspaper, whose publisher is a member of our Rotary Club, ran a story on the front page of the region section the following Tuesday, and a front page story and picture on the following Friday.  This is Rotary!

 

To help raise money, a friend of the family offered to raffle a vacation at their beachside condominium in Florida.  At our next Club meeting, one of our Rotarians asked our club members for contributions toward the purchase of plane tickets to complete the raffle.  One table immediately donated $50 and challenged the other tables to match them.  The response from all the tables was truly amazing, with each table donating more than the last table!  Within three minutes, our Club donated over $1,100 in cash for the event.  This is Rotary!

 

Just ten days after the first meeting, our Rotary Club held the spaghetti dinner.  Several Rotarians joined with local volunteers to set-up and decorate the room, sell tickets, serve dinners, and help-out.  We were prepared to serve about 400 people, but were overwhelmed by the response.  We ran out of spaghetti, sauce, and napkins, but Rotary members quickly bought more supplies and cooked more food.  We ended up serving more than 1,100 dinners.  The Chinese auction and raffle were a huge success.  The event raised over $11,000, with more contributions expected.  

 

The vast majority of our members participated in some manner.  It was an incredible team effort and club-wide demonstration of service over self!  The look of appreciation on the face of the family members was priceless.

 

Best regards,

Andrew Goodell, President, The Rotary Club of Jamestown