An Early Spring Getaway

 

 

Montego Bay is designated the “Gateway” to Jamaica, and what a special portal it is. Eduardo and myself wanted to get away for a few days over his spring break. As it happens RCNY Immediate Past President Silvio Amori and First Lady Margaretha had been to a resort at Montego Bay that they prized and gave us the information. But, I made a small mistake, and scheduled our departure on a Tuesday morning, thus missing our weekly meeting at the New York Club.

 

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