Rotary is more than just a SERVICE ORGANIZATION. There is a lot of fellowship and fun. The common thread among Rotarians is service for our communities and the world. Rotarians focus on providing our Youth opportunities to grow and excel. We also focus on aiding those needing help such as the segment of the population needing assistance with food or those in distress such as the recent Guadalupe River flooding and devastation along the River. However, we also have opportunities to have fun with other Rotarians at social gatherings like the Fifth Tuesday hosted by the Rotary Club of Conroe. There are other opportunities also, but the most popular are Rotary Fellowships.
Rotary Fellowships consist of people who share a common interest in recreational activities, hobbies, professions, or cultural identity. These groups help expand skills, foster vocational development, and enhance the Rotary experience by exploring interests while developing connections around the world. Rotary Fellowships are organized internationally by at least 25 individuals from five countries with the purpose to further friendship and build community around a shared passion and interest. These Fellowships help participants make lasting friendships outside their own club, district, or country. These Fellowships welcome any interested individual, regardless of Rotary affiliation, and provide fun and diverse ways of participating in Rotary International. Fellowships are affiliated with Rotary International but establish their own administrative structures and plan and oversee their activities and events. These Fellowships offer platforms for in-person and virtual networking by illustrating Rotary’s inclusivity of many vocations, interests, cultures, and identities.
These international groups maintain a global presence and offer engaging, meaningful events and activities to fellowship members. These Fellowship Focus groups focus on a diverse group of activities from antique automobiles to beer to wine to yoga. These Fellowship groups also have athletic orientations from cricket to curling to hunting to pickle ball to rugby to scuba diving to skiing to triathlons, and more. These Fellowships groups include travelers and RV groups. Don’t forget the arts with Fellowship groups focusing on jazz, fashion, quilting, photography, and performing arts. Whatever your area of interest, you will find a Rotary Fellowship Group oriented toward your hobbies and interests, whether it be personal or business. There are business groups that focus on real estate, investment, or quality management. These Fellowship groups link local and worldwide Rotarians in the fun aspects of their lives.
I am personally involved in the Wine Appreciation Fellowship Group. This is a group of wine lovers from through out the world. We have a monthly newsletter and can contribute to that newsletter and communicate via internet and at local events. These fellowships can establish groups on a local basis. I am in the process of establishing a local wine appreciation group.
If you are a Rotarian and interested, please email me at rsaikowski@comcast.net. I am also your source if you want to find out more about Rotary and our Service and Fellowship.