When someone walks into the Griffin Rotary meeting at noon on any Thursday, they are greeted with a firm handshake and a smile. Rotarians from our area, from Georgia or anywhere in the United States, and even any country in the world are welcome. Immediately they have a connection with every Rotarian in the room. When you travel to different Rotary Clubs you are always greeted warmly with a handshake. When you announce you are a fellow Rotarian the handshake is firmer and a smile is there. You are connected.

You can go to any city in Georgia, the United States even the world and you are instantly connected. Find yourself in Telluride, Colorado in need of medical assistance, find a Rotarian they will treat you as family and get you to their doctor, or hospital. Chances are they know the CEO of the hospital and will get you the service you need. Find yourself in Seattle, go by the largest Rotary Club in the world. You will find 642 friends. Find yourself in Chicago in need of an attorney or police chief, find a Rotarian and chances are they can put you in the right place quicker than anyone in the city. Find yourself in the big City of New York in need of a cop or the New York Police Commissioner, find a Rotarian and you could find yourself in Tom Sellecks office. Maybe not.

The point is that as a Griffin Rotarian you are connected to 1.2 million Rotarians around the World in 34,282 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas. You can get the best help in any country just by asking a Rotarian.

For those of you attending the Rotary Gathering in Atlanta next year, you will connect every one of those visiting Rotarians to Atlanta, to Griffin, to the United States and every citizen of the United States of America. Thanks for putting Service Above Self and representing our City, our State and our Country.