Rotary wasn’t given to you to keep – it was given to you to give away.  It’s a privilege to be invited to join Rotary and I have long yearned to thank the man that bestowed the honor upon me.

While driving from club to club conducting our official visits, Louise and I often talked of finding the man that invited me to join Rotary to let him know how things turned out for me. Above all, I wanted to “thank” him for the wonderful gift he gave me.  His name is Dale Justus – he sponsored me as a new member while serving as President of the Carthage Club 1977-1978.  He owned Coast to Coast Hardware in Carthage and left town not long after he finished his year as President.  We heard he had moved to Oklahoma.  I kept hoping I would run into him at one of the Oklahoma meetings, but time was growing short as we were down to only a few visits remaining in the District and all in Oklahoma.  Knowing how much it meant to me, my youngest Daughter Kathy stepped up efforts to locate Dale and the timing was perfect!  Just before we were to visit Vinita, Kathy finally made contact and Dale called that day and was delighted to hear I was District Governor.  He is still in Oklahoma now living in Claremore and never rejoined Rotary after leaving town, but he proudly announced that he never throws anything away and still had his name badge.  

You can imagine that by this time my hopes were up that I would finally be able to shake his hand and thank him.  I let him know we were going to be close to Claremore for a Rotary club meeting in Vinita and told him I would buy his lunch if he would come as my guest and attend the meeting at the First United Methodist Church.  As it turned out, Dale is from Vinita, graduating from Vinita High in 1954 and was in scouts at the very church where Rotary meets.  He agreed to come telling me that he never turns down a free lunch!  It proved to be one of those coincidences that provided a great home coming and it couldn’t be more perfect!  Dale showed up early during my board meeting wearing his round Carthage Rotary badge listing him as President.  Dale was impressed with the board meeting and told me the DG’s 31 years ago didn’t include this business meeting as part of their official club visits.  It was clear that a “Rotary Moment” was unfolding and a Rotary Reunion was about to take place.

So far, it has been quite an enjoyable journey serving as your Governor, but I have to say in the end this homecoming will make it more than special.  Okay, I know you’re wondering if I “invited” him to rejoin Rotary.  You will be glad to know that I have encouraged Dale to get back into Rotary and promised that if he does .. I will make the circle complete by inducting him as a new member. 

  It’s not too late for you to take time to personally “thank” the person that invited you to join Rotary.  Someone thought enough of you to invite you to join – have you paid that forward??