A couple years ago, the Rotary Club of Pearlridge (RCOP) invited Rotary International Hawaii District 5000 District Governor Sandy Matsui to speak at our weekly lunch meeting. At that time, DG Matsui was approaching the end of her Presidency and had spent most of the past year visiting each District 5000 club throughout Hawaii with RCOP being her final visit.
DG Matsui shared an inspiring and uplifting video from the current Rotary International President. The first part of the video was a call to energize and motivate Rotary International clubs via their leadership to increase membership rosters by three new members per year.
The second portion of the President’s video message focused on Rotary International clubs partnering with other international organizations such as the Lions and Kiwanis, as well as develop corporate partnerships that also supported our youth leadership programs. Our club was happy to report to DG Matsui that we were already working together on community service projects with several Hawaii Lions District 50 clubs, corporate partners, Navy volunteers and our three RCOP Rotary Interact Youth Leadership Programs representing Pearl City High School, Highlands Intermediate School, and Our Savior Lutheran School. We have grown and continue to expand our involvement and dedication to working on service projects together that directly benefit communities in Hawaii, U.S.A, and international communities throughout the world through our humanitarian outreach. The RCOP has also developed and implemented in 2023, a special Corporate Membership dues package to encourage business leaders to join the RCOP while representing their businesses.
The RCOP is extremely proud and honored to financially support, along with our corporate partners, our three Interact schools who in 2023, have successfully completed, or are currently working on service projects that benefit those in need in communities here in Hawaii and around the world. They are the youth leaders of today, that are shaping and developing their leadership skills of tomorrow, from what they learn and experience via service projects in the community and academic opportunities as they reach towards achieving their higher education goals.
Early Saturday morning, I represented the Rotary Club of Pearlridge at the Mana Loa Nimitz Lions Club sponsored beautification service project led by Lion Dexter Aoki in the Aiea community. I joined volunteers from a few Hawaii District 50 Lions Clubs and other community volunteers who came together to clean and paint over graffiti at the Aiea Elementary School pedestrian overpass that crosses over near the Aloha Stadium parking lot.
It was a true honor on Saturday to work alongside 2022-2023 Lions International District 50 Hawaii District Governor Gary Nip during the Mana Loa Nimitz Lions community service beautification project that brough together both Lions International District 50 Hawaii and Hawaii Rotary International District 5000. Today’s workday service project unification is another positive layer upon the foundation being built from our Rotary International President’s message to unite behind community and global partnerships and initiatives that strengthen our organizations outreach while benefitting mankind through our collaborative efforts.
I have been a Lion and Rotarian for over 13 years and appreciate the opportunity to be a part of both international service organizations while serving with outstanding community leaders, volunteers, and partnerships who are the Heart and Soul of successful, productive, and healthy communities in which to live and thrive together as one.
Service Above Self
Barry Villamil
Rotary Club of Pearlridge
Public Relations Chair / Rotary Youth Interact Leadership Director
Photos by Barry Villamil
