We know many people
live with the idea that there must be something bigger and more interesting in our
lives than home-work-home, otherwise what is the point of living? For a long time,
I've been observing how people who close themselves off at work and at home appear
and behave, as opposed to those who give themselves over to society through an active
social life and charity. A good example is our women's organization, «Ester-a-Malka»,
where every activist (all of them middle-aged) looks energetic, beautiful, young,
and merry beyond their years, always ready for new accomplishments in our social
life! I adore them for that! Thank God for having them!
I have recently
learned that in scientific astrology, there are two interesting perspectives on
the mission of human beings in this world . First, there is a destination to be
oneself - a destiny to being a person. It implies finding one's self, understanding
one's desires, and being able to evaluate oneself from within. To do this, a person
explores the core of his or her personality, the center, his or her Sun, which is
«responsible» for the inner energy, individuality, and passion in life. When a person
overflows with inner energy, everything positive in the world surrounds that person.
Therefore, desires are easily fulfilled, and what seemed impossible becomes only
an easy obstacle. For this, each person has to ignite his/her own luminosity, and
then our lives are filled with new people, interests, experiences, and, of course,
events! And we will share our resources with people, with the world, and we will
do it with pleasure, and abundance.
The other mission
of human beings in this world is social destiny. We are confronted with the need
to ultimately define our identity, to build our "nest" and our life's
work. To move along this path, we need a supply of basic biological energy for successful
realization in career and business, for discipline, responsibility, and then life
will not be the same, because we get involved in a curious process of interaction
with society. And it gives a wonderful sense of belonging to a common cause – a
pleasant feeling of being needed in your environment. It also fills life with a
strong energy, enthusiasm that promotes good deeds for the surrounding people, familiar
and unfamiliar. Such people have a special way of understanding the meaning of life.
Why am I talking
about this today? Because I met a Russian-speaking group of philanthropists in San
Diego that I had heard of, sometimes talked to some of them on the phone, and attended
a couple of community events they held. Recently, this group of activists, led by
their charismatic leader Mila Milton, founded the first Russian-speaking Rotary Club in America. And for those who are not familiar
with what that is and what it means, I would like to offer some basic
information.
Rotary International is an international non-governmental
association uniting Rotary clubs all over the world, the main purpose of which
is to organize joint humanitarian projects.
The Rotary Club
was first founded in 1905 in Chicago by a lawyer, Paul Harris,
to "develop a spirit of friendship and solidarity." In 1907, as president of the Rotary Club, he began the
first humanitarian projects, transforming the Rotary Club into a social club, which later
developed into an international association of clubs aiming to conduct international
social programs.
Harris had great
ambitions to turn the local club into an all-American and then an international one. More clubs began developing in various
U.S. cities, and in August 1910 they united to form the National Association of Rotary Clubs. A year later, the first European Rotary Club appeared in Dublin. In 1922, the official name of the organization
was established: Rotary International.
Today, according
to Rotary International, there are over 36,000 clubs in 166
countries with over 1.3 million members. The main center is currently located in
the Swiss capital of Geneva. The Rotary Clubs position themselves as a non-profit, non-political, charitable organization
open to all countries, regardless of nationality, race, religion, and political
views. Rotary's main motto is «Rotary Unites the World» and its second
motto is «Change the World for the Better». The clubs are governed by the president
and the Council, who work on a rotating basis, changing every year. The emblem of Rotary International is the image of a gear, which symbolizes
«constant movement forward, renewal».
Rotary's main goal is to bring together professionals
and entrepreneurs to carry out humanitarian projects, develop high ethical standards
in the professional sphere, help those in need, and establish peace and goodwill throughout the
world.
So, the Rotary Club recently organized in San Diego has already been approved in Geneva.
It is unique because, for the first time in history, it was created only
for Russian-speaking people living in America, with American history, but principally
focused on the preservation of national traditions, the strengthening of
friendship, and mutual understanding of all Russian-speaking people (including English).
The members of the Rotary Club of San Diego are social activists,
successful entrepreneurs, financiers, doctors, prominent people, and philanthropists.
And you should see how active they are, full of energy and a desire to do good deeds
and help others! For them, charity is a meaningful part of their lives.
The activities
and program of the Rotary Club of San Diego include large festivals
of nations, sporting events, children's talent contests, various large themed celebrations,
and help in the development of small businesses.
«Rotary is beyond politics and beyond religion», The Rotary Club of San Diego president, Mila Milton, constantly reminds us and invites
like-minded people to unite. We stand for friendship and the development of
human kindness, mutual help, the realization of personal plans, and the importance
of family. Today, Rotary clubs unite the universe. Millions of Rotarians around the world are doing great
and good things. If you share our good ideas, we invite you to join our club! Let
us live together in the spirit of generosity, patronage, and sympathy! Let's do everything together to help change our world for the
better! We are looking for fellow people in other cities in the USA, where we can
model our idea on the Rotary Club for Russian-speaking immigrants.
«Together, we are a great force!»
I hope this good
community endeavor will resonate in the hearts of all of us who live in this country.
Reflecting on
the beliefs of Rotary, one concludes that this is exactly what our Great Torah, according to the
laws we have lived by since the day we were born, calls us to: charity. And it is in our blood!
Editor-in-chief Doctor Zoya Maksumova
(April 2021, "Ladies’ World" №238)
