Dear Rotarians,
As we come toward the close of October this week, I am remined of one of my favorite poems about the transitional beauty of this Autumn season:
"October is the month of painted leaves.
Their rich glow now flashes round the world.
As fruits and leaves and the day itself
acquire a bright tint just before they fall,
so the year near its setting.
October is its sunset sky;
November the later twilight."
This poem was written by the great American writer, social reformer, naturalist and philosopher, Henry David Thoreau.
(Funnily, Thoreau’s work reminds me of my closest friend from high school, who heckles me relentlessly about my many, many years in college, and has asked me countless times if I will ever use my English degree in British and American Literature, and I think I just may have. Finally! Ha! My parents will be so proud :)
But seriously, Thoreau’s poem from his “Autumnal Tints” helps us consider the transition from the spectacular reflective moments of October to November, a month of gratitude and thankfulness.
As Rotarians and members of the Denver/Lake Norman Rotary, October has brought us the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Charter of our club granted on October 23, 1995 and our remarkable founding members, who created this Denver institution that has brought us all together today and has done so much for our community and its members for the last thirty years.
This month also gave us the opportunity to honor World Polio Day on October 24th, and the miraculous work Rotary and its END POLIO NOW campaign has done to bring about a worldwide reduction in polio cases of 99.9%, with only two countries remain polio-endemic: Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Spectacular moments to celebrate and reflect on indeed and so much gratitude for what RI and our own Rotary has done for our world and community and what it means to each of us. I am thankful for each of you and am so looking forward to sharing November with you.
With Many Thanks,
Trudie
