The new year brings us new opportunities to put “Service Above Self.” The year also reminds us of fellow Rotarians who are no longer with us. We keep their families in our prayers and thoughts as we forge ahead, serving our community and the world. We have other members who are facing health challenges and planned surgeries. Then there are those recovering from surgeries or illnesses. We are all blessed to be in our present station in life. Where we find ourselves, is where we can do the most good in helping to make a difference in our corner of the world.

Tom Everett gave his classification talk last week. Thank you Tom, for sharing your life, profession and community involvement with us. Tom showed us how what we want may not be our real purpose in life. Had he continued on his original path, Thomasville would have been robbed of all the good he does in our community. Continue to bless Thomasville, Tom.

We had sixty-two in attendance last Thursday and the program was William Lokey. William gave us a snapshot of his involvement in the World Trade Center rescue and recovery efforts in New York after 9/11. As was mentioned in the last newsletter, he has had a long career of travel, adventure, supporting science in polar areas, climbing mountains, and helping communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disaster.

Helping communities is something Rotarians know how to do. We do not necessarily wait for a crisis to appear. We take action if we see the crisis developing. Rotarians are constantly working to make our world a better place to live.

And as Phil McGraw said, “We don't wait until we're in a crisis to come up with a crisis plan." Many thanks to William for sharing.