by Anura Guruge
on November 19, 2022
My adoptive father was a Rotarian, back in Ceylon, in the 1950s/1960s.
I was approached in a car park, in 2001, by the then President of ‘Laconia Rotary‘ & more or less told that I had to join the Club. He was persuasive. I joined within days! I see that the ‘official’ records say that I joined on December 31, 2001. It was before. I was inducted in an open air meeting & that was unlikely to have happened, in Laconia, in December. It was in August or September. I can find the exact date, but that doesn’t really matter.
I was a very active member into 2003. I was ‘Sergeant-At-Arms‘ for most of that time. So, that kept me very involved both during & in-between meetings.
It was a great bunch of folks. I missed them.
Much happened in the last 20 years. I was also kind of busy. I am sure I wrote & published over 30 books during that time.
This Summer I started seeing Facebook posts, on my timeline, from Laconia Rotary. They were selling raffle tickets for the Harley. That was beyond nostalgic. I really, really, really missed selling those raffle tickets — in public venues. I wanted to join just so I could sell tickets again. I contacted the poster & he was very welcoming.
The rest is history. I wasn’t sure whether I would be allowed to rejoin. I had left without giving notice as such.
But, I have been reinstated — & I get to keep my original membership number etc. Wow. I am delighted.