Breakfast with a former Rotarian is a unique experience because I have met many former members but few former Rotarians. I thought she had moved away and probably joined another Rotary club in her new community, but I was wrong. She was still living in the same house only a few miles from where I live.
My fellow Rotarian joined Rotary over a decade ago, she had a small retail business and her husband had a very good automotive service shop. They were living an economically comfortable life. Their daughter was just finishing college and their son was midway through seminary with hopes of having his own church in the near future.
Unfortunately, her husband became very ill, a lingering disease that eventually took his life. She closed her business to care for him and after his death she was forced to sell his business and a greatly diminished value. Her life went from comfortable to tolerable then settled on depressive, but she still had her friends and activities at Rotary. Paying her dues was increasingly difficult, but she strained to try to stay current. Financial contribution were eliminated while her time was expanded.
One day she appeared at the weekly meeting to be met by a recent past president of the club who shared that the board had discussed her past due status on her financial commitments and determined that since she really didn’t have a business, wasn’t a professional and was not able to meet her financial obligations it might be a good idea for her to stop coming to meetings until she got a job and paid her bill.
This story, and many like it, make me cringe when I hear about a club clearing out the dead wood and starting the new Rotary year with a clean slate. Unfortunately, some of that dead wood are really good Rotarians who are experiencing tough times. The gardening reference may be appropriate when applied to people who join and don’t become committed productive members, but the other part of the gardening metaphor is also important. We plant our seeds and nourish them in the nursery. Weeding out the deadwood is only appropriate if it is really dead, sometimes it needs a little pruning, watering and extra care to return to a healthy life.
When a Rotarian faces personal or professional challenges their usefulness to Rotary is not at an end. That is when the development of acquaintances and fellowship is the most important part of the Object of Rotary. I hope I never lose a business and a spouse, but I also hope my good friends at Rotary are there to support me if my personal situation is stressed.