Helen Keller once said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." In your Rotary club you are never alone, you have the potential to do so much good, and that good is most often manifested in your club’s Service Project.
It is well known, that local service projects are essential to Rotary clubs, embodying their commitment to community service—one of Rotary International's core pillars. These projects make a profound impact by addressing specific local needs, enhancing education, health, and environmental sustainability, and alleviating poverty. They also engage members deeply, offering them a hands-on opportunity to see the fruits of their labor, thus boosting satisfaction and retention.
These initiatives raise the clubs' community profile, attract new members keen on making a local difference, and foster robust partnerships with other local entities, magnifying their effectiveness and sustainability. Ultimately, local service projects are not just activities but are critical to fulfilling Rotary's mission of service, integrity, and global understanding, significantly impacting both the communities served and the Rotarians involved.
Our Rotary club, Georgetown -Sun City Georgetown has enjoyed a very special Service Project (Breakfast with Santa) that has brought joy to many for over 24 years. Each year, we team up with Georgetown Firefighters and Georgetown ISD the week of Christmas. The Firefighters cook a delicious pancake and sausage breakfast for the families' gift bags the families. We provide Polaroid photos for hundreds of kids and their families – almost 1,000 attended in 2024. Our club also provides donations to many non-profits and gift cards designated by GISD. John Chenoweth has been leading this special project for several years.
Then, several months ago, our Sun City Rotary President Elect, Ted Berriman, came up with a brilliant idea for a new Service Project. “Since we citizens in Sun City and Georgetown are blessed with such outstanding Fire/EMS and Police departments and we are indebted to them for our health, safety, and wellbeing, let’s show our appreciation in a major way.”
