An Annual Letter to My Fellow Rotarians (2021)

10 short years ago, I joined a Rotary Club. I was 27 years old and brand new to the Pacific Northwest. I found myself at the starting line of work in the nonprofit field. I had no friends and even fewer business contacts. The only things I brought with me were a deep desire to give back, an outsized hope to make an impact, and a selfish wish to create my own legacy.

I also held a preconceived notion about service clubs. Shortly after landing a job at Kent Youth and Family Services as the fund developer and communication director, a dear friend of mine from Oklahoma asked, “Are you going to join a Rotary club?” I laughed sarcastically and said, “Am I old enough?”

A month into my new job, I was approached by the Rotary Club of Kent about membership. My boss urged me to join. In fact, his command was hidden away in my job description. Reluctantly, I headed for a noon meeting on a Tuesday at a country club. Walking through the doors, I felt awkward, out of place, and instantly reminded of my youth. I loathed feeling this way.

I sat with the member who graciously invited me and was introduced to the club. They sneered and hated that I was from Oklahoma. The hatred for the newly acquired Oklahoma City Thunder from Seattle was palpable in the room. I kindly reminded the room, “that you cannot steal what someone else is…