E-CLUB PROGRAM
PRESIDING TODAY IS: Diana Martinelli, President-Elect
Ding! We’re now in session.
Welcome all – Visitors, fellow Rotarians and guests alike to this E-Club program!
Remember the smiling pot. Donations to our E-Club help support our service projects.
We’d like to respectfully remind all visitors that if they would like to contribute the normal cost of a meal for your makeup, we would be grateful. These funds go directly to our many and varied service projects around the world. You can make a contribution in the Donation box on the homepage. Or you can write a check to: Rotary E-Club of District 7530 and mail it to Treasurer MSRE, 115 Hoffman Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505.
Four-Way Test
At the beginning of each meeting we remind ourselves of the The Four-Way Test. Therefore, please remember to ask yourself always . . .
Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
A Reflective Moment
The things you are passionate about are not random. They are your calling.
-Fabienne Fredrickson
A Light Moment
In recognition of the upcoming 30th anniversary of women’s admission to Rotary (May 4), here are a few reasons why God may have created Eve:
- God worried that Adam would always be lost in the garden because He knew men would never ask for directions.
- As the Bible says, "It is not good for man to be alone"; he only ends up getting himself in trouble.
Program: Caring for Ourselves; Leading Others
This past weekend, our district had the privilege of hearing Clay Marsh, MD, talk about various research studies and what they tell us about longevity. The son of a longtime, well-known journalist, editor and commentator, Dr. Marsh returned home to West Virginia after serving for many years in leadership roles at The Ohio State University. He returned to help lead West Virginia University’s Health Sciences Center and, in so doing, to make positive strides in our residents’ health and health care systems.
Dr. Marsh spoke at length about research findings from around the world that, when boiled down, point to several consistent findings about health, disease and longevity. As a result, he recommended five simple changes we can make to improve our health and, thus, our chances to live a longer life:
- Reduce sugar intake — Americans eat approximately 120 pounds of sugar per person per year. Its addictive nature and physiological effects make it a pervasive health hazard.
- Move your body — The simple act of walking each day can help ameliorate other risk factors by strengthening your heart and improving circulation. In addition, it’s been shown to elevate mood.
- Practice gratitude — In our consumption-oriented society, many people view their “glass” as half-empty instead of half full. By recognizing the beauty and gifts around us each day and actively expressing gratitude for them, we are growing a positive mindset about our lives, rather than feeding dissatisfaction and want. For example, if you are fortunate enough to have a job, think to yourself “I get to go to work today,” rather than “I have to go to work….” “I get to mow my lawn today” instead of “I have to mow my lawn.” Think about those who want jobs but don’t have them; those who wish they were physically able to mow or had a lawn that needed tending.
- Connect with others. People who care about others and have others who care about them are both happier and healthier. If you find yourself alone and lonely, seek out human contact. Invite a neighbor for coffee, volunteer to help others if you’re able, make a phone call…. We are social creatures, who rely on others for feelings of safety and security, and studies show that social media alone do not fill these needs.
- Look for and pursue your purpose/passions. Dr. Marsh said he is pursuing his purpose by returning to his home state to work with other like-minded people who believe they can make a difference. As today’s reflection above states, the things you are passionate about are not random, are not coincidental: they are your calling. Look for ways to pursue your passions, and you’ll be happier — and healthier.
Our district also had the pleasure of hearing from the fabulous Tiffany Ervin, self-proclaimed “Rotary geek,” who spreads the news of Rotary service through her website Rotarygeek.com. She shared with us her journey in and passion for Rotary and her own purpose to help cure Alzheimer’s — a disease that has so ravished her mother’s memory that she no longer recognizes Tiffany at all.
Tiffany told the members of District 7530 that for a long while after she joined Rotary, “I was in Rotary, but Rotary wasn’t in me.” She reassured us that Rotary will become part of who we are as we find our own passions for service in the world and work with others who share those passions through Rotary — the largest international service organization in the world, and as such, an organization that is able to achieve seemingly impossible goals, such as eradicating polio worldwide.
After all, Rotarians work together across six focus areas, and I challenge you to find a cause that doesn’t fit within them:
- peace and conflict prevention/resolution
- education and literacy
- clean water and sanitation
- disease prevention and treatment
- maternal and child health
- economic and community development
In thinking about our own purpose and that of our businesses and organizations, Dr. Marsh reminded us of a 2007 TedTalk by Simon Sinek, called “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” In it, Mr. Sinek speaks of the “golden circle” of success. The TedTalk link appears below to end this week’s meeting; I hope it helps to remind you of your own personal purpose, that of the company for which you work, and that of Rotary International.
Thank you for participating in this program!