Why I Am A
Rotarian
JULY 25, 2006
My father could
never be invited to join Rotary. He was a laborer. Work
wasn’t always available during the great depression and when
it infrequently was available - he was paid. My brother and
sister and I didn’t know we were poor. We were treated by
clinic-based physicians and dentists and attended summer
camps for children run by local charities. We had free
library cards and dedicated librarians, great teachers and
volunteers who encouraged reading and study.
Meals were
meager but steady and Mother always provided sustenance not
only for the body but also for the soul by teaching us to
care and share. She kept a piggy bank on the kitchen table
and asked us to remember others less fortunate and give some
of our few pennies and nickels to those in need.
Our teachers
were wonderful and encouraged us to dream of the future.
They didn’t hesitate to embrace us and tell us education and
literacy were the keys to our future and that we were
special and possessed the ability to make something of our
lives. It was important for us to hear those words from
those we respected.
Of my dozens of
cousins I was the first to attend college and did so with
scholarships that were awarded to me by service clubs. This
was a significant hand-up in my life and I’ll never forget
the opportunities that were afforded me.
I
graduated Temple University School of Dentistry and my wife
Patti (a dental hygienist) and I worked many years side by
side in our successful dental practice. There were no
monetary inheritances from our parents but we are so
appreciative of the wonderful inheritance of caring and
sharing learned from loving families and superb mentors and
teachers.
Patti and I
joined Rotary and quickly recognized the strength of this
organization. What better place than Rotary is there
to be involved in service? Involved not only locally, but
also internationally. It is a privilege to be members and
to share what we’ve learned and earned.
Are there
opportunities in life to “give back”?
Rotary
International gives us that opportunity. What better place
is there than The Rotary Foundation to give back?
Patti and
I have recently endowed a Rotary World Peace Scholarship.
We are immensely proud of Rotary’s World Peace Fellowship
Program and knowing that our endowment will live on in
perpetuity and benefit generations of peace scholars in
years to come is extremely gratifying.
The
opportunity to donate a named World Peace Scholarship was
for us a dream come true! When Patti and I are gone, our
children will present the Rotary Peace Scholarship in our
name and when they are gone our grandchildren and then their
children after them. Forever! That is our
legacy!
We are honored
and so proud to be Rotarians. Thank you Rotary,
Eddie and Patti
Edward and M.
Patricia Blender
The Rotary
Club of Edwards, D5470
Colorado USA
