From Alumni to becoming Rotarians – A Journey
One of the key resources to getting good Rotarians is from within our Rotary family - our Rotary alumni - former Peace fellows, Ambassadorial Scholars, Youth Exchange and Group Study Exchange members, Rotaractors, Interactors, and similar.
The September 2013 issue of "Our Foundation Newsletter" [Published by the Rotary Global History Fellowship] carries such story of former GSE members who not only decided to join Rotary, but came together to charter a new Rotary Club...
A story of Rotary Alumni taking the step forward and forming a new Rotary Club
(as shared by Mathew Dempsey and Som Varma - former GSE Team members)
One of the world’s newest Rotary Club recently born in Madison, Wisconsin USA, is not your average Rotary club. As many are aware, Rotary membership in the United States has been aging and declining for years. Leaders in Rotary recognize that one of the answers to this decline is attracting a new generation of Rotarians to build enthusiasm and participation in the organization.
Swearing in of Madcity Rotary club officers, including 2013-14 President Som Varma and Treasurer Mac Dempsey
In May of 2011, Justin Burnett, a local professional and former Rotary Youth Exchange student, attended the local Rotary District Conference in search for a way to get involved. Although there were 8 existing clubs in Madison at the time, Justin was unable to participate because club meetings occurred on weekdays during business hours. Like many younger professionals, he was unable to break away from work to attend. It was at District Conference that Justin came in contact with Dean Ryerson, the soon to be District Governor. The two of them set plans to sponsor a new Madison-based Rotary club that would meet after business hours and build a base of young professional members.
Matthew Dempsey and Som Varma, inspired by the once in-a-lifetime opportunity they experienced through Rotary Group Study Exchange to RI District 3131, were among the first to join the effort in November 2011. The enthusiasm and respect they gained for Rotary while visiting homes, businesses and service projects in Pune, Nigdi, and Mumbai proved invaluable in encouraging the growth of this new club. This was their first chance to give back to the organization that had such a profound impact on their lives, so they quickly joined the effort to start this new club.
