Third Time’s The Charm

I was introduced to Rotary in the ninth grade when a friend suggested I should join our high school’s Interact club. I took his advice and joined, and haven’t regretted it for a moment. Being in Interact played a huge role in defining my high school experience, and the introduction to Rotary and Rotaract that came as a result has done more to shape who I am today more than anything else I can put my finger on. In my four years in Interact I was both president and vice president of the club, helped plan innumerable service projects, and was even fortunate enough to be able to travel to South Africa for a volunteer/service trip with other club members. I enjoyed my time in Interact so much that, when I knew I would be moving to Ottawa for university, I did my research ahead of time and was happy to learn the the Rotaract Club of Ottawa existed.

It actually took me three attempts to successfully join the Rotaract Club of Ottawa. In my first and second years, I attended the first few meetings of the club but it just didn’t stick. It was a combination of being shy, not knowing anyone, and feeling uncomfortable with the club’s formal meeting format—given the two former points— that kept me from feeling comfortable enough to join. In 2018 though, the nexus of two specific factors made Rotaract finally stick for me. First, the club made some changes in format that made the meetings more comfortable to a newcomer like me, but more importantly, I came to the meeting with a friend. The latter made it so much easier to show up to a meeting where I didn’t know anyone, as we could talk to each other rather than sit in awkward silence while waiting for the meeting to start.

In retrospect, my shyness seems silly. It turns out that Rotaractors—especially Ottawan Rotaractors—are some of the nicest people I’ve met. In two years, I’ve gone from a someone who was nervous about attending their first meeting, to a general member, to treasurer recently re-elected for a second term. I’ve sat on the club’s International Service Committee, helped plan events, worked on special projects for the club, and even travelled to New York City for a conference! I’ve made friends through Rotaract, and have loved every minute of every meeting since joining. (Not to mention the countless post-meting fellowship events, where members can unwind and get to know one another better, and which are probably better measured by the tens of dozens of delicious chicken tenders which have been collectively consumed at fellowship over the course of my time in the club.) I’ve especially enjoyed taking on the treasurer role, which has allowed me to use my technology skills to refine and improve the club’s financial processes and push the club into the 21st century with the adoption of debit/credit payments. (I’ve also helped the club launch some interesting new “passive” fundraisers, which I’ll explain in detail in a future blog post.)

I find it silly looking back on how nervous I was to join the club, and that it took three years for me to actually join given how comfortable I am as a member—in a leadership role no less—today. Anytime I see someone new walk into a meeting, I think back to how I felt during those three attempts to join when I was the newcomer, and it informs my attempts to be as inclusive, friendly, and welcoming as possible.