Road Trip with PDG Paul Caruso

Greg Lynch, July 30, 2003

Paul Caruso, before he became a member of the Rotary Club of New York last year, was a Governor of our Rotary District 7230. During Paul’s year as Governor, 1999-2000, we celebrated the new century and Paul put on a great Millennium District Conference here in Manhattan. I was his Conference Chairman, and we have been friends ever since then.

So when Paul invited me to join him at a Rotary Zone 31-32 training session in Reading, Pennsylvania, I accepted. Truth is, I had never been very clear on exactly what Rotary Zones are or what they do. I found out that Zones 31-32 bring together some 27 Rotary Districts from New England and parts of Canada through the Mid-Atlantic States. On the drive down, Paul filled me in on the subject of the training. It was to be a full day of sessions on the Rotary Foundation. It was too late to beg off, so onward we went. Now, I’m glad I did.

The evening before the training session, we met Bob Antoine and his wife Ellie for dinner. Later, they took us to their lovely home in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania and put us up for the night. We had a great evening, talking about travel and trains (Bob’s passion) and Rotary. Both Bob and Paul are working closely with the Rotary Foundation. It was a great evening and a great experience of Rotary hospitality. Already, I was feeling better about the trip.

The next morning, we found ourselves driving through the gorgeous, rolling green, countryside on our way to the meeting. At the country club hosting the event, there were about a hundred Rotarians and many spouses. They all seemed to know Paul and he, in turn, introduced me around. I kept waiting for someone to ask me for money, but that didn’t happen. Instead, the speakers talked about the good that Rotary is doing around the world, about the four up-coming national polio inoculation days – in Ethiopia, India and Niger – and about all the other great things we as Rotarians are accomplishing. We talked about GSE – Group Study Exchange - a favorite subject of mine, having been a Group Leader to Brazil in 2002. Matts Ingemanson is our District 7230 GSE Chairman. We also talked about Ambassadorial Scholars, the most favored program in all of Rotary. Just ask Dick Sainburg, Helen Reisler or Bernard Fabricius! Really - ask them!

By now I was becoming seriously interested in the day’s events. Then, over lunch, I met two new friends from New Jersey, Adrienne Bzura and Bernadette Jennings, both Rotary dynamos and really good people. They were both very complimentary about the Rotary Club of New York, especially our recent $100,000 contribution for Polio Plus. They also promised to come by for a visit and to help all of us understand better the work of Rotary International and how all of us in the Club can be a part of it.

By the time Paul and I headed back to the City that afternoon, I was feeling good. I’d learned more about Rotary, had the experience of great Rotary fellowship and generosity and made some new friends. It was a day well spent. Thank you, Paul.