President's Message
I want to start by saying how humbled I am to have the opportunity to serve as president of our club this coming year. When I was asked to take on this role, I was truly honored.
I'll be honest with you—I'm a little nervous. Actually, if I'm being completely honest, saying I'm "a little nervous" might be underselling it.
But I'm also really excited. I know I'm not doing this alone. So many of you have already reached out to offer your support, and that means a ton.
Before I talk about the year ahead, I want to thank Nancy Kerr for her leadership this past year.
Nancy, thank you for your time, commitment, your dedication, and everything you've done for our club. It’s going to be a tough act to follow, but You’ve led us well, and I hope to continue building on the strong foundation you've helped create.
As I step into this role, I don't have plans to reinvent the wheel. We have a great club filled with great people, and my goal is simply to keep moving us forward together.
One thing I'd like to challenge all of us to do this year is talk about Rotary more.
In my work in development, I'm always sharing the mission of LSS and talking about the impact we're making, hoping something resonates with people enough that they want to get involved.
I'd like us to think about Rotary the same way. Let's make Rotary as well-known as possible in our community. And when you talk about Rotary, be specific.
Tell people about the Thanksgiving meals we help provide. Talk about our scholarship program. Share how much you enjoy our weekly meetings and hearing from guests who keep us informed about what's happening in our community. Tell them about our holiday social or the friendships you've built through this club.
People connect with stories and experiences. So when someone asks about Rotary, don't just say, "I'm a member of Rotary." Tell them why you enjoy being part of it.
For me, Rotary has meant a lot. It's given me the chance to build meaningful friendships, connect with people who care deeply about our community, and be part of something bigger than myself. I also personally love the speakers we have and staying informed about what’s going on in the Chippewa Valley.
I'm making it a personal goal this year to share how much Rotary has meant to me, and I hope you'll do the same.
As we work to welcome new members, I also want to reconnect with members we haven't seen in a while. Life gets busy, but I want those members to know they're missed and that they always have a place here. Sometimes a simple email, phone call, or invitation is all it takes.
Before I close, I want to share one final thought. Last week, my wife and I watched the movie The Forge, and there was one line that really stuck with me: "Be more of a fountain than a drain."
To me, being a fountain means giving more than we take. It means encouraging others, lifting people up, and sharing our time and talents to make our community stronger. When I think about Rotary, that's exactly who we are.
Thank you for trusting me with this role. I'm excited to see what we can accomplish together.
Thank you.
Paul Peterson
Rotary Club of Eau Claire President