My fellow Neenah community members - hello! If this note on our homepage is your very first introduction to what Rotary is about, then we’re off to a good start. To some of us, Rotary is about networking with fellow club members, interesting speakers, and visiting guests. To others, Rotary is about service to the club, to the community, and to the world. And yet to more members, Rotary is about creating long-lasting peace through communication and understanding.

 

Every year, Rotary International presents a theme throughout the organization. The theme serves as both a reminder of what we’re about, and as a challenge to reinvigorate the masses - this year our theme is Rotary Opens Opportunities. We are a global community of 1.2 million members who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves. Specifically, Neenah Rotary: promotes peace through Rotary Friendship Exchanges whereby members of our district host inbound adults from foreign countries while they learn about our culture, and then we visit their countries in turn for the same reason. We connect young minds to diverse ideas that broaden their horizons by sending students to events like the World Affairs Seminar, supporting the annual YouthGo service trip, and sponsoring inbound and outbound exchange students. We also connect the world by both supporting international projects for clean water and humanitarian aid - projects that many of our members have traveled internationally to work on in addition to contributing financial aid.

 

The Rotary Club of Neenah is a diverse microcosm of our community. We are friends who come together from all over to join in service and fellowship. While our club is based in Neenah, WI, many of our members live elsewhere. We have members living as far north as northern Appleton, as far east as Manitowoc, and as far south as Oshkosh (like me!) We may work in Neenah, live there, or have just developed a love for the area and its people - that’s what makes us all a part of the Neenah community.

 

This is just the tip of the iceberg! If you’re even the slightest bit interested in learning more or coming to visit during a club meeting or service project, please email me directly at ulrich.kristopher@gmail.com. I promise a personal response within a day of checking my email, and I look forward to meeting you soon. Thank you.