Letters from members of the First 100 Committee
Dear President Helen,
On behalf of President John Alberts, Officers, Directors and every member of
our Club, we send our condolences to The Rotary Club of New York #6 for the
loss of family and friends there.
As all of us in the free world struggle with the horrors of the events
Tuesday, our prayers and sympathy go out to everyone affected as a result of
the hijackings.
Through our "rotaryclubhistory" network, we were in touch with Matts Ingemanson,
your Internet Communications Officer Tuesday morning and were learning first
hand from him about his personal experience that morning.
These horrendous events will provide an even greater opportunity for Rotary
International in our effort to change the future by developing better
understandings between all people in every country throughout the world.
May our Heavenly Father guide our President, his Cabinet and the Congress in
the days ahead as the free world comes together in an effort to eradicate
terrorism from the face of the earth.
Please let us know how we can be of help to your Club as you respond to the
needs of your community.
Yours In Rotary Service,
Richard H. McKay
Secretary
Rotary Club of Chicago #1
(Secretary/Treasurer "Rotaryclubhistory")
Dear Friends:
It is my privilege to share with you a message from an Ensign aboard the USS
Winston Churchill. SOMEWHERE AT SEA
Yours in Rotary,
Eddie Blender
(Executive
Committee, "Rotaryclubhistory")
THE
MESSAGE…
“Now at sea they (the LUTJENS (D185), a German warship) called over on
bridge-to-bridge, requesting to pass us (the USS Winston Churchill) close up
on our port side, to say goodbye. We prepared to render them honors on the
bridge wing, and our Captain told the crew to come topside to wish them
farewell. As they were making their approach, our Conning Officer announced
through her binoculars that they were flying an American flag.
As they came even closer, we saw that it was flying at half-mast.
The bridge wing was crowded with people as the Boatswain's Mate blew two
whistles -Attention to Port- -the ship came up alongside and we saw that
the entire crew of the German ship were manning the rails, in their dress
blues.
They had made up a sign that was displayed on the side that read "We
Stand By You"
Needless to say there was not a dry eye on the bridge as they stayed along
side us for a few minutes and we cut our salutes. It was probably the most
powerful thing I have seen in my entire life and more than a few of us
fought to retain our composure. It was a beautiful day outside today.
We are no longer at liberty to divulge over unsecured e-mail our location,
but we could not have asked for a finer day at sea. The German Navy did an
incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest point in
the days since the attacks.
It's amazing to think that only a half-century ago things were quite
different, and to see the unity that is being demonstrated throughout Europe
and the world makes us all feel proud to be out here doing our job.”
As I sit here in my offices, watching the TV, and making sure my children
around the country are safe (a son-in-law works in management in the NYC
area), it occurred to me that the world as we've known it has changed
forever, it will never be as it has been - terrorists have let us know that
we, the most powerful country in the world, are vulnerable, and if we are
vulnerable, so is every nation in the world. My point? All the more need for
Rotary and for Rotarians who are passionate about world understanding and
peace. –
Marlene Brown
Web Committee Chair
www.Rotaryclubhistory.org
Matts - I'm located in Upstate Central NY (near the Utica/Rome area, 40 miles
SE of Syracuse) and many of our city fireman and Red Cross workers who
volunteered to help are already on their way to NYC to offer their services.
Blood banks have been set up for people to donate blood to ship down. Our
county sheriff, who I'm bringing into our Club next week as a member, has
been on alert all day with his staff. Everything scheduled to take place
this evening has been cancelled. One of my daughters, a teacher, said many
students were in shock, as their parents commute to NYC to work.
The City of Utica, only 9 miles from me, has one of the largest Resource
Centers for Immigrants in the country. It reminds us that we must help
others understand that no blame should be laid on any specific cultures that
will bring harm to innocent people who were not involved in this tragedy.
I'm sure our government will take the necessary steps to deal as soon as
they are able to discern who was behind the terrorist attach. My Club meets
tomorrow and we'll decide there how to help further. I'm sure Rotary
International will soon be posting a Disaster Relief notice.
Marlene Brown
Web Committee Chair
www.Rotaryclubhistory.org
Matts,
Family, Friends, Rotarians and Americans:
On
behalf of our Rotary Club of Kamloops, BC Canada, our prayers are with all
of you. We are so devastated here and in total awe as to the
devastation you are experiencing. My heart ached at the thought of
lives lost, lives injured and the damage that has been done.
I will be reading the notes of the recent emails from Jack, Marlene and
yourself to my Rotary Club on Thursday. If we can help, we want to
help.
With heartfelt concern,
Sherry Chamberlain
Kamloops West Rotary
www.rotarywest.kamloops.net
sherry@adobie.com
Dear all
We are still in shock from what we saw - the World Trade Center crumble
into dust and debris. The tragic loss of life is almost too much to
bear. Those that survived, and the rescue crews too, will have to carry the
burden of the unspeakable horrors they experienced for the rest of their
lives.
I saw on tv The Statue of Liberty, standing tall and proud as a symbol of
your great city and nation, and as she stood silently bearing witness to
this senseless death and destruction, I could swear I saw a giant tear run
down her face.
On behalf of my Rotary Club and District, I extend our deepest sympathy.
We are with you in prayers.
Giovanna
RC Waling-Waling Davao
District 3860, Philippines
Dear Fellow Rotarians, on behalf of my
family, the Board of Directors of my Club and all fellow Rotarians from my
Club , Trinidad & Tobago and the wider Caribbean region I express my heart
felt sympathy to all of America and to other peoples of the World who are
affected by this unfortunate tragedy that has taken place in the US. My
prayers are with you all. May God give you the strength to be able to deal
with your loss.
YIR. Kennedy Fleming.
Thank you for the community service you do in
our community, for the nation, and the world. Today, the work that you seek
to do has become more difficult to do. You will need all the support and
commitment of your fellow Rotarians to make sure that Paul Harris’ vision
remains strong and inclusive.
Today, more than any other day, you and your fellow Rotarians are being
asked, and challenged to look to Harris’ vision, and there find the
direction for tomorrow. Today, more than yesterday, and less than tomorrow,
each one of us must tell ourselves, and we must tell this to any one who
will listen: “We must be the change we want in the world”. Gandhi
challenged us to do this. I’m sure Paul Harris would have asked no less of
his Rotarians.
Thank you again for introducing
me to the idea that being a Rotarian is a good thing!
Enid Sepulveda Rodriguez
Dear Matts
As you say - these tragic events have generated great emotions in us all -
here on this side of the Atlantic we cannot believe we would ever again see
scenes which brought back the horror of the blitz ...and now this.
I have sent our message of condolence to President Rick copied to the two
District Governors of the Districts involved - if there is anything we can
do - we want to do it - being on the ground as you are .....let us know !
Please keep me informed - I will distribute your news throughout the 29
Districts here.
Yours in Rotary Friendship
David Liddiatt, President
Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland
We
are in Lafayette, LA at Governor Elect Training and are in shock about
what's happened in New York. We have you and all New York in our
prayers and thoughts. It's been a challenge to stay focused on our
purpose here when so many there are hurting.
This
senseless act has made it even more obvious and compelling to continue our
dedicated work to work toward peace and build goodwill in our world.
It is, after all, a beautiful world - made more so because of Rotary.
Marketing Chair,
Rotaryclubhistory.org
Matts,
On behalf of my Club and everyone I know, I extend to you and everyone this
horrific event has touched, our deepest condolences. I don't think any of us
can truly comprehend the magnitude of what happened on Tuesday. My Club will
be meeting tomorrow and I know that we will be making a contribution to aid
the victims of this horrendous act. We contacted Rotary International to
find out if there were going to be a humanitarian relief effort such as we
saw when earthquakes and floods have stricken other parts of the world. We
were very dismayed at their response. I therefore am asking you and your
club for guidance. We want to send whatever aid we are able to. We await
word from you.
Yours in Rotary,
Gail Peretz
Executive Director
The Rotary Club of Phoenix, Arizona
The Worlds Greatest Rotary Club
