Sir: Look under Wikipedia for the definition of success and community commitment and overwhelming value for the dollar, you may find it to say “Rotary Club of Chatham.”
The explosive success of the Rotary initiative, the recent Tecumseh Park Beach Boys concert was a reminder to me, an awareness shot in the arm perhaps, of how important such organizations are to a community and to a nation. Placing things in perspective, such organizations, as the Rotary, Kiwanis, Optimists, IODE and so on, nationwide inject more than $160 billion, with a “B,” contributing significantly to our GDP (Gross Domestic Product). I never thought in these terms until more recently.
Additionally, the work of these non-profit groups not only give great value for your dollar, unlike government, but with such organizations, you know and can see where every penny goes, making you feel proud you were part of building an integral part of a nation, province or community with your donation, that otherwise would be pulled from your wallet by government to spend in a manner seldom acceptable by the taxpayer.
Tecumseh Park was packed with people, all of whom demonstrated to confirm, “money well spent,” all the while having all proceeds go the Chatham-Kent Hospice.
The actions of Chatham Rotary and all such organizations truly give a community a robust bang for the buck. The public can experience an entertaining social outing, one that eclipses a government tax dollar investment due to such volunteer groups acting so unselfishly toward the public’s best interest.
Although I’m not a Rotarian, I have had the great privilege to be invited to a number of our local Rotary groups. Chatham-Kent could almost be deemed the Rotary Capital of Ontario, having Rotary clubs in Blenheim, Ridgetown, Dresden, Wallaceburg, Tilbury and of course our two Rotary clubs in Chatham. The Chatham Rotary has committed $100,000 to the Chatham-Kent Hospice. I would encourage citizens to visit www.rotary.org
My respect and appreciation to our Chatham-Kent Rotarians and all such groups.
John Cryderman
Chatham
