Thursday, November 5, 2009

Service Above Self

I was asked in a last-minute-we-can't-get-anyone-else-the-guy-who-was-supposed-to-come-welched-on-us kind of way to join two perfectly wonderful and qualified speakers who were doing a presentation about Social Networking to the Rotary Club of Paducah.

half of the tables before things got started

When I arrived, I thought, my, my this is a big room with a lot of seating! I had imagined the Rotarians were a small group of (mostly boring, self serving NO I DID NOT SAY THAT) business people. Three of us were to speak.

Mary Thorsby IS social networking in Paducah. She started iListPaducah dot com, for which I write the iPet of the Week feature. She is a dynamo and a treasure and a precious gem, and all of us in this region -most of all the charities - have benefited from her creative spirit and energy and ask me how I really feel!!! Mary spoke first.

Laura Thornton is Laura K of Laura K Style. She's only a model, a PR guru, a marketing genius, and a graphic designer all in one. She was the second speaker.

And then there was ... me.

I looked out the windows at the same river where the dogs and I walk every morning. It calmed me some. Some.

Mary and Laura had prepared wonderful talks about how to use Twitter, Facebook, Blogs, LinkedIn and a bunch of other stuff I'd never heard of.

I walked to the podium and held up my digital camera and said, "SMILE! ...Y'all are going to be on my blog tomorrow!"

and they did! Only I couldn't fit everyone in one shot.

And then I said, "I'm here as proof that if I can do this stuff, anyone can do this stuff. I have a little blog, and I have found great friends on Facebook, but I don't get Twitter. I keep telling folks for heaven's sake don't follow me on Twitter, because I have no Earthly idea where I'm going, and there you go I have five new followers."

I certain I didn't teach those Rotarians much of anything. But I sure did learn. I really thought the Rotary Club was about people pushing their businesses. Kind of like the recorded messages about consolidating your debt phone calls you get at dinner time. HA! This was absolutely wrong, wrong, wrong! Their motto is Service Above Self. I looked around the room and saw the friendly faces of the people I most respect in Paducah. They recited:


The 4-Way Test
Of the things we think, say, or do...

1. Is it the TRUTH?
2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Huh? That doesn't sound like a bunch of self serving business sharks! (Not that I have anything against Sharks, Janet Reid, Literary Agent. I loved being your chum*.) That sounds like my very own personal mantra. How did they... ? This sounds like something Little Miss Goody Two Shoes could dig right into.

As I listened to the meeting progress, and to new members being sworn in, I was more and more impressed with the whole philosophy behind the Rotary Clubs. Today I've searched around the web and I'm even more delighted with what I found.


L to R: Laura Thorton, Rotary President L V McGinty, Mary Thorsby and Goody Two Shoes

So. What do you know? Life is good!

hug your hounds and your Rotarians

*query #112, if you were curious


10 comments:

  1. Glad you liked it! I'm sure they enjoyed it too. I know I would have ;) Plus I love how you took their picture! LOL!

    Hugs,
    A

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  2. I did PR for my home health agency a few years ago and spoke to several Rotary Clubs around our area. They are a great bunch. Congratulations.
    QMM

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  3. Ummm...did you tell them you blog mostly about your dogs and we all love it?

    Oh, and did I mention that Rich has a blog for his class, and it is generating great discussion. Yeah, Mr. Luddite himself. Course, Gussie helps him.

    b

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  4. Auntie Patience
    You manage to teach us something evewy dayWe had no idea what wotawians did.
    How cool
    Thank you
    smoochie kisses
    ASTA and Mommi
    Pee ess..you look awfully pwetty

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  5. Anie it was really fun. They were good folks and my part was short n sweet!

    QMM- you have a home health agency???!!! Cause I need a job... !

    Barb where is Rich's blog? Please?

    Asta you made me blush! But thank you. (See I WANT to say I look like a silly old lady in Harry Potter glasses who needs a hair cut, but Bill says I don't know how to take a compliment, and I'm working on it. How did I do?)

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  6. I confess, I've never hugged a Rotarian. My dog yes, a Rotarian no.

    But I wish I'd been there to hear your talk and to see the reaction when you took your picture.

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  7. Patience, you were FABULOUS! Thanks for filling in! You're the BEST! (And I get to hug a Rotarian every day!) xoxoxooxomt

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  8. OH that is sooo cool!! Love that you took their pics too!

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  9. Hi Patience,

    Just signed to follow your blog - it is wonderful! I also love your husband's work too. I am a fellow dog lover and I started a blog recently:

    http://susanbethstudio.blogspot.com/

    I write about my current children's book project. I am writing & illustrating the story of our adopted beagle Cosmo. I also talk about art, dogs in general and our adventures as a certified pet therapy team. Hope you like it!

    Thanks, Susan

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  10. Our guess is they learned a lot. We learn every time we read your words. And you make us think. And feel.

    Thank you.
    Fergi and Jake ooxx

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