Fellowship
I joined a Rotary Club three months ago and have been meeting with my colleagues at least once a month for fellowship. On average, we have two regular club meetings per month.
The Rotary International bylaws require members to attend 50 percent of all meetings, but I noticed that regular and more frequent attendance is encouraged by many clubs. One of the reasons for this encouragement is to enhance fellowship among its members. Certainly, the spirit of personal friendship is the first step that opens doors to all other opportunities for service (Dochterman, “The ABCs of Rotary”).
Humanitarian services like livelihood programs and medical missions are more efficiently and effectively implemented when those who carry out such projects are dynamically bonded together in the spirit of camaraderie and friendship.
As I have written about in this column a few times, I have recently reconnected with old friends in one of my hometowns, Cagayan de Oro City (CdO). I have made new acquaintances, too.
Personal connections that span decades have recently opened an opportunity for me to serve and help the Philippine Red Cross (PRC). I had the chance to volunteer for the PRC in CdO back in
the late ‘80s when I was in my teens. The chapter administrator I once worked with is no longer there, but I was pleased to meet some of the current staff in its Misamis Oriental office. Some committee members, the current chapter administrator and other enthusiastic staff of its Blood Services program and I are looking forward to working together. It is still early, yet I am confident that together we can continue to make a positive difference.
I had worked for several years with the late Gina Lopez in one of her ABS-CBN Foundation programs — Bantay Kalikasan. At the memorial service for Gina last month, the Foundation’s managing director Susan Bautista-Afan and I talked about the possibility of collaborating one day soon, particularly in the area of environmental stewardship with Bantay Kalikasan. I have been thinking of that conversation with her and wondering how I
can harness partnerships with city and provincial governments, so that we are able to make greater headway in the community. Attending my cousin’s wedding this Friday, I turned around from where I was standing in the church and who did I see? The very same Susan of ABS-CBN Foundation.
Opportunities to connect or reconnect do not always happen by chance. Many times, we have to get out of our comfort zone and make that extra effort. The effort need not be grand. A simple “Hi,” “Hello,” a message via social media or a warm handshake is sometimes all it takes to get you on the road to life-giving fellowships.
It is worthwhile to take on an attitude of openness towards these opportunities. From such openness, avenues of service are made clearer and the tasks infinitely less daunting when you are with people who seek the same goals and share the same values.
The rapport built among fellows together with their drive to serve is commonly the backbone of many a successful humanitarian project.
I have, from experience, proven that a seemingly simple gesture to establish rapport can do wonders in planting the seed of goodwill. The harnessing of goodwill can, in turn, bring about precious lifelong fellowship.
“Opportunities to connect or reconnect do not always happen by chance. Many times, we have to get out of our comfort zone and make that extra effort.
“Humanitarian services… are more efficiently and effectively implemented when those who carry out such projects are dynamically bonded together in the spirit of camaraderie and friendship.