We have just emerged from an eventful year’s most eventful week (so far). Local, State and Federal elections came off peacefully and, it seems, accurately–a great accomplishment in itself given the many pressures on voters, poll workers, and volunteers.  Congratulations to the winners. Much is expected of you now. Congratulations also my fellow citizen-voters and those elections officials for showing patriotism, courage under pressure, and a commitment to our most fundamental right in this democracy–the right to select those who lead us.

Yet darkness gathers. Not only the meteorological darkness of a long, cold, Michigan winter, but a soul darkness, too. The president is contesting the election despite the healing balm a graceful concession might provide. Political divisions threaten to deepen into mistrust and outright fear of each other. The pandemic rages on its third wave, with the potential to overwhelm our distressed health care system and our overloaded psyches. Holiday reunions approach, this year freighted with doubt and fear as to whether it is safe to come together at all.

I would like to offer an antidote to all this darkness. A pathway towards community, camaraderie, and purpose awaits with a single, simple step: become involved in a local service organization. The Rotary Club of Saugatuck-Douglas is a great one to consider.

Rotary is a global community of over 2 million members in 32,000 small, local clubs like ours. The Rotary Foundation is one of the world’s largest, best funded, and most effective non-governmental organizations. Among many other accomplishments, Rotary has nearly eradicated another killer virus–Polio–from planet earth.

Here at home, our (currently) 46 members form a team of the kindest, friendliest, and most engaged servant leaders around. We are hatching big plots to benefit our towns in 2021. Among these are a launch of the long-awaited Boys & Girls Club; traditional celebrations around Independence Day; perennial events like the Mt. Baldhead Challenge; and some new ideas for spring and fall that we want to put into motion. We need to raise $100,000 to meet our goals.

More than that, however, we want to open up our club to those of you who would benefit from joining us in our regular meetings (held on Zoom for now); socializing and coming to know each other; hearing from dynamic and motivating speakers; plugging in to roles tailored to your unique talents; and having lots of meaningful fun knowing you are part of a larger team and global effort to, as our Purpose Statement says, “create positive lasting change in our towns, in our world, and in ourselves.”

  • Political differences fade when we see beyond our personal biases and preferences to the hurt our neighbors are enduring, and we do something about it.
  • Loneliness disappears as we come together as friends, neighbors, and problem solvers to tackle big needs.
  • Anxiety and fear scatter when love enters the scene in the form of cheerful service to others.

The way we see it, this is the way we come back together again as the United States of America. Each one of us has to make a choice: either get involved to help others and thereby become part of the solution, or the alternative, which is as obvious as it is depressing.

If this sounds good to you, please contact us at letstalk@saugatuckdouglasrotary.org. Operators are standing by…