The Rotary Foundation
Posted by Gregg Kaufman
Brenda Cressey is the current "Rotary International Discussion Lady and
was a keynote speaker at the 2009 Rotary International Assembly. She is
the recipient of the RI "Service Above Self" award. Her dream is to
end polio.
Her current position in Rotary is as Regional Rotary
Foundation Coordinator, a three- year term. Her objective is to assist
our region in reaching its goals, and to tell the Rotary story. She
quoted current and past RI presidents on numerous occasions, and
encouraged all of us to go to the R.I. website and read current
President Kenney's message. The underlying theme is that the "future of
Rotary is in your hands." Each of us helps to decide the future of
Rotary."
Brenda is a 20-year Rotarian and has been closely involved with the development of four different clubs. Her hope during her presentation was to leave all of us with the thought of doing something positive to help Rotary, which in turn will help make a difference. She told us inspirational stories that involved delivering wheelchairs as well as providing polio vaccinations.
She talked about an elderly man in Mexico who had lost both legs and was carried by his grandson. When he was set into his new Rotary wheelchair, he looked skyward and thanked the Lord and then spun around and around in joy. Everyone in the room had tears in their eyes. It was later learned that, for many years, his grandson had been his legs and missed years of schooling because of it.
Brenda left us with one final thought that was quoted from RI Past President Arch Klumpf: "No one knows what Rotary will be tomorrow, but what it will be tomorrow depends on what we Rotarians do today."
Brenda is a 20-year Rotarian and has been closely involved with the development of four different clubs. Her hope during her presentation was to leave all of us with the thought of doing something positive to help Rotary, which in turn will help make a difference. She told us inspirational stories that involved delivering wheelchairs as well as providing polio vaccinations.
She talked about an elderly man in Mexico who had lost both legs and was carried by his grandson. When he was set into his new Rotary wheelchair, he looked skyward and thanked the Lord and then spun around and around in joy. Everyone in the room had tears in their eyes. It was later learned that, for many years, his grandson had been his legs and missed years of schooling because of it.
Brenda left us with one final thought that was quoted from RI Past President Arch Klumpf: "No one knows what Rotary will be tomorrow, but what it will be tomorrow depends on what we Rotarians do today."