Creating the Challenge

Alone I am one Rotarian, but with others I am one of many. I love visiting other Rotary Clubs, especially when I travel abroad, it is interesting to see the different dynamics of the various clubs.

I was first invited to join Rotary in 1992 in Bath, New York, but felt my work schedule would not permit me to commit to a service club. Then I was invited to join again in 2006 in West Point, VA, this time I was able to devote time and energy to helping others.
Apparently my mentor saw potential and I was fast-tracked through RLI, Secretary/President-Elect and onto Club President in a span of 3 years.

I truly believe in the avenues of service and the commitment to serving both my local community and the community abroad. So when my son came home from a RYLA weekend and said he wanted to take part of his summer earnings to help Eradicate Polio or Shelter Box, I was pleased and excited to share a Polio NID opportunity with him. In Feb 2010 we joined District 7730 in a Polio NID in Dhanbad India, I returned to my own club and district with a desire to do more. The Polio Chair was pleased to see my enthusiasm and encouraged me to participate in Polio Plus events, such as the Champions for Polio Eradication at the Capitol, and share my experience with other clubs.

Then driving to a Foundation Seminar, I thought wouldn't it be cool to visit 200 Clubs in 200 Days, collecting donations along the way to hitting the $200 Million Challenge goal.  After mentioning this idea to some others at the Foundation meeting, I was promptly challenged.  Initially I wanted to start in the Philippines traveling around the globe ending in Evanston, Illinois on June 30,2012. But learned that we would probably make the goal much sooner than that date, and since I have limited funds traveling around the globe in 200 days to visit 200 clubs would be a most daunting task (But one I would love to undertake if the opportunity developed). So lets think locally, my district has 54 clubs, my neighboring district 64 clubs, then go a little further into the zone, so if I concentrate on the Mid-Atlantic and North Carolina I could potentially do this.

I start by analyzing the club meeting dates and locations, soon realizing there are a lot of morning clubs especially on Tuesday and Thursdays. Clubs don't hold meetings on the weekends. So I will have to hit 2 or 3 meetings a day when ever possible. Also, I will allow myself different online e-clubs, Rotary events, and fundraisers that I can participate in, to count toward the goal. During this time I will also travel to India to participate in my 2nd NID, so each Rotary event will count, such as going to the World Health Organization, Polio Plus Office, service projects that we participate in and of course dispensing of the Polio vaccines.

So until Oct 1, 2010 I will be contacting clubs to arrange my schedule of visits. I will Start on October 1 2010 and need to complete 200 visits by April 19, 2011. As I go I will journal about each club visit. and keep you posted on the donation totals.

In Service to Rotary,
Colleen