Sandra Duckworth, past District Governor for Rotary district 7610, spoke to the Rotary Club of McLean on Tuesday, Nov. 6, at its weekly luncheon. Duckworth shared the story of how Rotarians from across the globe have made a difference, not only in their own communities but around the world through the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.
Speaking to the topic “Changing Lives – Changing the World,” Duckworth affirmed that Rotarians are giving people. Through their time, their dollars, and their resources, Rotary has created a foundation to support education programs worldwide, has provided grants to fund humanitarian programs, has helped provide clean water and needed health care, and through its Polio Plus Partners program has been instrumental in eradicating polio in many parts of the world.
“The world needs Rotary,” said Duckworth. “Rotary changes the world, and Rotary changes lives.”
This year the Rotary Club of McLean celebrates 42 years of providing leadership to the Rotary Foundation. The Club currently has 58 members who have distinguished themselves through their giving and have been named as Paul Harris Fellows. All 70 McLean Rotary Club members are sustaining members of the Rotary Foundation.
Duckworth praised the McLean Rotary Club and recognized this spirit of giving, celebrating the Rotary Club of McLean’s recent award of a $49,000 Rotary Foundation Matching Grant to purchase surgical equipment to furnish two surgical suites and ancillary recovery rooms for the Centro de Salud Barbara surgical clinic in rural San Juan Sacalapequez, Guatemala. Duckworth also presided over the induction of Edward Shahin as the Club’s 58th Paul Harris Fellow, and Douglas Megill as the Club’s 12th member of the Paul Harris Society.
The Rotary Club of McLean meets weekly for lunch, each Tuesday at 12 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall of Lutheran the Redeemer Church, located at 1545 Chain Bridge Road in McLean. Membership is open to women and men who place “service above self,” and who desire to make a contribution to their local and international communities. For more information about the McLean club visit www.mcleanrotary.org.