Once upon a time there was a man who had a habit of walking on the beach before he began his work. One day, as he was walking along the shore, he saw a human figure moving like a dancer. He smiled as he walked faster to catch up.
As he got closer, he noticed it was a young man who was reaching down to the shore, picking up the starfish washed ashore and throwing them into the ocean.
“Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?” asked the man.
The young man replied, “The sun is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them in, they’ll die.”
The wise man commented, “But, do you not realize that there are miles and miles of beach and starfish along every mile? You can’t possibly make a difference!”
The young man replied as he picked up yet another starfish and threw it into the ocean, “It made a difference to that one!”
The story of Rotary is no different. It is a story of making a difference. Of spreading goodwill, hope and cheer. Of giving meaning to peoples’ lives. Of ensuring good health. Of making the right to education a reality, even if in a limited manner. Read on to see the difference Rotary and in particular, Rotary Club of Guindy has made.
The Rotary Story
In 1905, an attorney in Chicago, Paul P. Harris decided to recreate the same friendly spirit he had experienced in his youth, in a professional club. And the Rotary Club of Chicago was born along with Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele and Hiram Shorey. The Rotary name came from the practice of rotating meetings among members’ offices. As Rotary grew, its mission expanded to serve communities in need.
Today, making the Rotary mission of Service Above Self a reality are 1.2 million committed Rotarians in 34,000 clubs across 200 countries. With such a proud lineage to live up to, the Rotary Club of Guindy has striven at every turn to acquit itself well. Chartered in 1995, the Club has grown from strength to strength. It has done so through compassionate service to society, by executing one major project after another and by nurturing friendship with like-minded Rotarians of the Rotary District 3232.