Malcolm Webb Rotary Page

Why am I a Rotarian?

We all start out in this wonderful organisation of ours in exactly the same way -- as a Member of a Rotary Club. Somewhere along the line, the emphasis changes; from simply attending the club meetings and social functions and trying to avoid getting involved in those things which we don't like, to becoming involved in doing all the things -- like them or not -- which Rotary is about.

If you dip into the book "Rotary Wisdom -- Reflections on Service" you'll see the thoughts of many eminent and worthy Rotarians from all over the world answering the question "Why am I a Rotarian?" Some of them say they can pinpoint the exact time when they became a Rotarian, because of some specific thing that was said to them, or done for them -- or because of something specific which they did themselves.

I can't tell you of any specific thing or event which made me realise that I was a Rotarian as opposed to just a Member of a Rotary Club.

What I can tell you, is that in 1983 someone was kind enough

to invite me to join his Rotary Club.

Since then, Rotary has given to me:-

the equivalent of a university education that I couldn't afford to buy;
experiences of life and people that I would otherwise have missed;
friends and fellowship that I would never have known;
the chance to travel to places I hardly knew existed;
opportunities to serve -- and to attempt to repay society for the good fortune I've enjoyed in my life so far;
and in the face of adversity and personal loss, Rotary gave me the strength and the will to carry on -- and to overcome some very negative and self- destructive thoughts.

In short -- since 1983 Rotary has given to me a quality of life that I would never otherwise have known, and I owe a debt to Rotary and to Society which it is my duty to repay.

That's why I'm a Rotarian

Malcolm Webb Governor, RI District 1270, 1998 - 99

Member of the Rotary Club of Lincoln, England

The Rotary name and logos, collectively known as the "Rotary Marks", are registered trademarks of

Rotary International and are used on this site under Rotary International Internet Policy Guidelines