I have not taken a minute this year to talk about the importance of the friendships that are built as a function of Rotary membership.
When we reach out to sponsor/introduce a new member or meet a new member someone else has sponsored we are potentially bringing someone into the circle of Rotary who may end up a close lifetime friend. This has certainly been my experience with Rotary starting with my induction into the Rotary Club of Eugene in 1978 and continuing with my membership here in Salem. It is certainly a story I have heard repeated, week after week, this year, as I listen to the Rotary experience of other members of our club. While it is important to stay/remain open, supportive and friendly to every single person in our club, lasting, lifelong- friendships do evolve.
So, to all of you who are bringing someone new into membership in the coming weeks, enjoy the friendships that evolve as a function of belonging to this club, both work and play, but stay open to the new life experiences that will come from the new and existing opportunities that become available.