An Early Spring Getaway
Montego Bay is designated the “Gateway” to
The resort was perfect and the weather to match. So for the
first days, I only worried about the ocean and sun. Then that little voice
started softly inside my ear - “What about your Rotary make-up, Greg”. At first
I pushed it away and focused on our idyllic days. Before too long the voice was
back - “What about your 100% attendance, Greg? Don’t you think you should make
the effort?” The concierge asked around. It turned out that both the head of
the equestrian center on the property as well as the owner of the fine jewelry
shop we had browsed in were local Rotary members. Before long I found myself
walking into a meeting of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East at a nearby
resort hotel.
For those Rotarians who do make up in other parts of the world,
I don’t have to say a thing. For those who have not I’ll say four things: 1)
you will always be warmly welcomed; 2) it will all seem very familiar, whether
or not you even speak the local language (of course, at Montego Bay East, they
speak a beautiful version of the Queen’s English); 3) you are sure to have a
good time, enjoy the local Rotarians’ company and perhaps make a new friend or
two; and 4) you may learn from the experience and bring back a fresh idea or
two.
At Montego Bay East, I was warmly welcomed, indeed, and given a
place of honor next to their President-Elect, Engineer Noel Whyte. The
recitation of the Four Way Test, the national anthem, the welcoming of guests
and, most importantly the fellowship and discussion about a community project,
lead by President Haresh Ramchandani, made this, unmistakably, a Rotary meeting
similar to our own. There was plenty or humor and good-natured kidding and the Sergeant-at-Arms
liberally distributed fines. I was not wearing my Rotary pin and so paid a fine
as well. There was a raffle. Quess what? - I won the raffle, but turned the
funds over to that Club’s community service project (It’s the refurbishment of
a community health facility in a neighborhood of moderate means, called
Flankers. This is their Centennial Project.) Finally, yes, I did learn much
that evening - about Rotary compassion and about Rotary initiative. And I
relearned a lessen I’d already known - that Rotarians anywhere in the world you
are likely to get to are a force for good. When I say “good”, I don’t mean just
the act of giving. I mean the attitude of “sharing” and of always maintaining
and honoring the humanity of the Rotary donors and recipients alike.
Yeah, doing my make up was the right thing. I went back to my
holiday, but a funny, subtle difference had occurred. I didn’t feel so much
like a “tourist” any more but rather a “visitor” with something unique to take
away and to leave behind. Perhaps it’s a matter of attitude, a matter of
humanity.
Greg Lynch
President
NY6
4/5/04