Fellow Rotarians,
I
was very touched when I read the letter from the Oklahoma City Rotary
Foundation. I realized that the Rotary Clubs of Oklahoma City and New York
City share a very strong bond. Not only are we Rotarians, not only are we
among the first 100 Rotary Clubs to be founded, but we also share the
experience of having had a major terror attack on our city. I believe that
the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City more than any other Rotary Club can
identify with what we are now going through in New York City.
I
was thinking about quoting excerpt from the letter, but I was not able to.
It did not look right. I have therefore quoted the whole letter:
The Rotary Club of New York
28 West 44th Street, Suite 1508
New York, New York 10036
Dear Rotarian Friends:
Our hearts are heavy and our prayers are with you. The tragedy you have
suffered has a special resonance for those of us who call Oklahoma City
home. We understand the anguish. We understand the pain.
We also understand your resolve to look forward and rebuild lives and
rebuild your city. It reminds us of the resolve and determination that
overtook our citizens after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
Our Rotary Club wants to help
much like Rotarians all over the world helped us in 1995. The Rotary Club of
Oklahoma City is pleased to forward a portion of our unused relief funds
along with our own contributions in the amount of $100,000.00 to assist the
relief effort in your fine city. We can think of no better place to entrust
this money than in the hands of fellow Rotarians where “service above self”
rules. Please direct these funds where the need is greatest.
Feel free to call on us if we can help in any way as you develop your plans
on how to administer the significantly large relief fund that will be in
your custody. Within our club are men and women who took a leadership role
in administering funds for the unmet needs of the Oklahoma City bombing
victims and dealt successfully with the same responsibilities you now have
accepted. They would be honored to share their experiences and their
knowledge.
We send love, hope and compassion from our 430 members and wish you and your
city a speedy return to normalcy.
God Bless America!
Page Dobson, Chairman Jim Clark,
President
Oklahoma City Rotary Foundation, Inc. Rotary Club of Oklahoma
City
You can read the letter in its original form at the website of the Rotary
Club of New York at the following link (click
here):
Rotary
is a wonderful fellowship!
Matts
Ingemanson
Internet Communication Officer
The Rotary
Club of New York
