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July | The Journey as “Rotary Connects the World”

July | The Journey as “Rotary Connects the World”

by | Jul 1, 2019 | Monthly Messages from RI President Maloney

July 2019

Rotary International President Mark Maloney

2019-2020 Rotary International President Mark Daniel Maloney

I love to travel! I even enjoy the mundane process of getting from here to there. But last year, my wife, Gay, and I had one of those experiences that would strain the optimism of even the most cheerful traveler. We found ourselves with six hours to wait, at an airport where we were not scheduled to be, on a day we had not planned still to be traveling, having woken up that morning at a hotel unknown to us the night before. It was one of those days.

As we waited at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, Gay and I took a walk to people watch. We went from one end of the terminal to the other and back, looking at every gate, every destination, every group of people waiting for their flights.

Each gate was its own island of humanity. When we walked down the center of the concourse, we were in New York, moving along with everyone in one river. But when you veered off into those seats, you left that current and landed on an island. You were already in Delhi or Paris or Tel Aviv.

As we started our walk, I thought: “All these different people, all these different countries, all in one place. This is like Rotary!” But as we walked past gate after gate, I realized something. It was not like Rotary at all. Because everyone in that river was heading for an island. And every island stayed an island. The people heading to Taipei might be talking to one another, but they were not talking to the people heading to Cairo or Lagos.

Contrast that with Rotary. Rotary allows us to connect with one another, in deep and meaningful ways, across our differences. It connects us with people we would never otherwise have met, who are more like us than we ever could have known. It connects us with our communities, professional opportunities, and to the people who need our help.

Connections are what make the experience of Rotary so very different from walking along that concourse at JFK Airport. In Rotary, none of us is an island. All of us are in Rotary together, whoever we are, wherever we are from, whatever language we speak or the traditions we follow. We are all connected to one another — part of our communities and members not only of our clubs but also of the global community to which we all belong.

Watch RI President-Elect Maloney’s Theme speech.

This connection is what lies at the heart of the Rotary experience. It is what brings us to Rotary. It is why we stay. Please join your fellow Rotarians on this journey as “Rotary Connects the World.”

reprinted from Rotary.org [https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office-president/presidential-message]

July | The Journey as “Rotary Connects the World”

2019-2020 Governor Scott McLaughlin

by | Jun 30, 2019 | MOJO Blog

2019-2020 Governor Scott McLaughlin

District Governor

Scott and Tracie McLaughlin

Growing up in an Air Force family, Scott was the first of four children to Raymond and Mary Jane McLaughlin.  Born in Georgia, Scott’s three sisters were born in Mississippi, Michigan, and Nebraska.  Life as a “military brat” meant constant travel and learning to adapt to new surroundings, school and friends. 

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Your 2019-2020 Governor

Your 2019-2020 Governor

by | Jun 30, 2019 | Uncategorized

Your 2019-2020 Governor

DG Scott McLaughlin

Growing up in an Air Force family, Scott was the first of four children to Raymond and Mary Jane McLaughlin.  Born in Georgia, Scott’s three sisters were born in Mississippi, Michigan, and Nebraska.  Life as a “military brat” meant constant travel and learning to adapt to new surroundings, school and friends.  His favorite duty station was Clark AFB, Philippines. It was in the Philippines that Scott realized just how privileged Americans really were.  Poverty was everywhere, the lack of clean water and sanitation was deplorable. Helping the local families with food, clothing, and water was most likely Scott’s first foray into community service, and most likely formed his core beliefs for Rotary.

Moving to Bellevue, NE in April 1973 was his final military move.  After graduation in 1976 from Bellevue High School, Scott attended the University of Nebraska Omaha.  Before finishing his undergraduate studies, Scott left school to pursue a nearly 20-year career in the Omaha retail industry.

Scott moved to Kearney in 1994 to assist his father with his business.  The original plan was to learn and work the bowling business, eventually allowing dad to retire.  After 5 years into his “internship” program, Scott made the decision to return to school to complete his previously unfinished degree.  After more than 20 years away from the classroom, being a full-time student was very intimidating.

Scott graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in 2001 from the University of Nebraska Kearney after only 5 consecutive semesters.  After a short stint working for someone else, Scott founded Heartland Hosting, LLC in late 2001.  Since founding his business, Scott has assisted hundreds of businesses with their Internet technology.

Scott joined the Kearney Dawn Rotary club in 2003 and has served as the Club Secretary, Club President (2005-06, 2023-2024), Technology chair, Rotary Foundation chair, and as a board member. Scott has also served as the District Public Relations Chair (2006-07), Assistant District Governor (2011-14), District Technology Chair (2013-14) and District Rotary Foundation Chair (2014-17, 2020-2021) and currently as the Zone 29 Assistant Public Image Chair (2021-2024).  Scott has served as a training facilitator for High Country PETS (17 years) and Rotary Leadership Institute.  Scott was honored as the District 5630 Rotarian of the Year in 2012-2013.  Scott is a Major Donor, multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society Member, and Bequest Society Member.

DG Scott McLaughlin
DG Scott McLaughlin

Scott and his wife Tracie were married in 1980.  Tracie works at the Kearney Regional Medical Center in the Medical-Surgical ward.  They have three adult children, a daughter (Lindsay) who lives and works in Kearney. A daughter (Lauren) and son-in-law (Joel), both teachers who live in Greeley, CO.  Lauren and Joel have an adopted adult daughter and a second foster daughter.

Their youngest, (Adam) and daughter-in-law (Darryn) live in Lincoln, NE.  Scott and Tracie became Grandparents on July 31, 2020 when Jame Henry McLaughlin was born to Adam and Darryn in Lincoln, NE.  A second grandson, Rhys Anthony was born on October 25, 2022 in Lincoln.

DG Scott McLaughlin

Outside Rotary, Scott has been a TeamMates mentor and volunteers his professional talents to many local service organizations and numerous Rotary clubs and organizations.  Scott worked for the Athletics Department at the University of Nebraska Kearney (2002-2020) where you would find him running the video message boards for any number of the men’s and women’s sports. Scott currently enjoys teaching as an adjunct lecturer at his alma mater.  Scott and Tracie are avid garage sale shoppers, looking for treasures and bargains weekly during the spring and summer months.  When they are not treasure hunting, they enjoy traveling and visiting their kids and grandkids.

Let’s indulge

Let’s indulge

by | Jun 7, 2019 | Governor Messages

Let’s indulge

Wow, where does the time go?  Welcome to the beginning of another Rotary year.  This new year our 2019-2020 Rotary theme has been designated by RI President Mark Daniel Maloney as “Rotary Connects the World.” As I compose this message I am on my way across France on the Oui Bullet Train to Epinal, a little later in this message.

This year we have so many things to accomplish, and I have big goals for myself, and I hope you all do as well for your clubs.  It will be a year of change as we begin our first year in a new zone.  If you don’t know, District 5630 was moved to be included with some new friends to our east.  For the first time in a long time we will be partnered with eastern Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan’s Northern Peninsula AND now we will actually be considered an International district as we will also include a portion of Ontario, Canada! So rather than being discouraged by redistricting, I’m excited about meeting so many new Rotary friends!

Speaking of meeting new friends, I hope that you will all take the opportunity to invite many people to your clubs, projects, and social engagements this Rotary year.  This is our single biggest challenge, as it always is.  You have all heard this from every Governor who preceded me, so no need to repeat the same message.  But this year will be our chance to reverse the negative trend.  I will just give you this one thought, “don’t think of your club as if it exists inside 4 walls, on a specific day or time.”  I have given all of the 2019-2020 club Presidents permissions to think differently, outside the box, be courageous and break the “rules.”  I plan to.  I’m certain with all the tools I have been given and the opportunities we have ahead of us that together we will meet and exceed my expectations of growing the membership in our clubs.

Rotary presents all of us with some unbelievable opportunities for leadership, service, diversity, and fellowship.  Have you ever really thought of what your membership really offers?  For most Rotarians, it never goes outside the 4 walls of your club meetings, and I must tell you that you are missing so much!  It would be like having a banana split with only vanilla ice cream.  No chocolate, no strawberry ice cream.  No chocolate, strawberry, or pineapple toppings.  No nuts, no whipped cream, no bananas and no cherries on top! Oh my gosh, of course, we have so many people that don’t stay in Rotary.  All they ever get is vanilla ice cream (aka chicken luncheon.)  So, if you aren’t enjoying the full banana split, let’s indulge.  Stay tuned, I have so many things to share, starting July 1 with my new travel blog, OurRotaryMojo.com.  I hope you will help me to share stories of leadership, service, diversity and most of all fellowship as I travel across the district.

Henry Repeta

TSgt. US Army Air Corps

So, in the beginning, I said I was on the bullet train to Epinal, France.  We are rocketing across France towards Zurich at almost 200 mph.  Where is in Epinal?  Epinal is near the border with Switzerland.  Today is June 7, the day after the 75thAnniversary of D-Day.  And we are on our way to pay our respects to the grandfather she never met.  The American Cemetery at Epinal, France.  One of America’s most beautiful American cemeteries for our European war dead.

Rotary has given Tracie and I, a once in a lifetime opportunity to do something we have only ever dreamed of doing.

Tracie’s Grandfather Henry Repeta, TSgt. U.S. Army Air Corps was shot down over France on May 30, 1944.  He is buried at the American cemetery in Epinal, his final resting place.  We never imagined we would visit his grave.

When we think of what we are given an opportunity to do, we must always pay respect to those who made it possible for us.  Neither Tracie nor I ever met her grandfather, we don’t even have pictures.  As I look out the window of the train I am left thinking about those that have given us so much.  People we have never met.  That’s what we as Rotarians also do every day.  We are doing good for others, just because we ARE Rotarians!

So, I thank all of you for giving me the opportunity to serve you this year, and for giving Tracie and I the opportunity of a lifetime to visit France.