Menlo Park Rotary - Member Testimonials

"I joined Rotary because I was asked to by a very old and close friend, Phil Schneider. I knew Rotary was a "service" but not much more. As I settled into my chair as a new member, I was provided the opportunity to serve others by doing. Each project I have worked on has provided a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment. Service above Self is more than a motto for Rotary. It is the guiding light."

"After so many years of simply "being part of the community," I felt it was time to give back and be a part of the ACTIVE community. Even though I am one of the younger members of the Club, I have such a great time at each of the events and I look forward to each and every meeting. Our members are great and I am truly humbled by their success, generosity and eagerness to help. They are also a great source of connections to business and to other leaders within our community."

"Friends I knew who were Rotarians suggested I attend a Rotary meeting. I did, and found that even though I was working ten to eleven hours per day, attending a Rotary meeting gave me a break from my work and got me involved with new friends in a community service environment.

Thirty years later, I am happy to continue to be involved in so many of our Rotary Club of Menlo Park projects. During this period, our club has been involved in international projects with orphans, seniors, water systems, and the refurbishing of a medical clinic. Locally, our club has worked with the elderly (providing a handicap-equipped bus for Lytton Gardens), we tutor in English literacy at the elementary grade level, provide in excess of $70,000 in college scholarships yearly to local high school seniors, and many other worthwhile projects.

I look forward to continuing to be part of the club and working with my Rotarian friends."

"A friend invited me to visit her Rotary Club when I started my business because she knew I go to a lot of business networking groups. During my visit, all the members of the club were very friendly and welcoming even though they are all successful and influential people in the Menlo Park community. The club turned out to be much more than a business networking group. I was very impressed with the philosophy of Rotary and all the humanitarian work the organization does in the community and around the world. It is very rewarding to get to participate in their projects. The members are also great mentors and are always very supportive in everything I do."

"I’ve only been in Rotary a few years, but it’s amazing how much I’ve seen Rotary help the community. Although Menlo Park is a beautiful place real poverty is very close. The first committee I served on was the Scholarship Committee. The Rotary Club of Menlo Park raises and distributes tens of thousands of dollars every year in the form of need-based scholarships so students can attend college. Virtually all of the recipients are the first in their family to attend college. Hearing their hardships and being able to help them is extremely fulfilling and makes me proud to be a member in the Rotary Club of Menlo Park."

"Shortly after I had retired nine years ago, I was enjoying the life of leisure I felt I had earned. Over time, however, I began to feel that I was no longer accomplishing anything worthwhile. About that time, a friend invited me to attend a Rotary meeting. From that and subsequent meetings, I learned that membership in Rotary should help fill that accomplishment void that was growing. It turned out I was right.

Being a Rotarian has provided me an opportunity for involvement in many worthwhile charitable endeavors. Also, I have met and become friends with a host of some of the finest people I have ever known. Rotary has become a significant part of my life, and I encourage any who want a rewarding experience, please come join us."

"I joined Rotary about 5 years ago. I was looking for an organization that served the local community as well as internationally. The Menlo Park Rotary’s projects range from college scholarships to a project in Guatemala. It’s wonderful to donate to an organization and watch your money work for a good cause. What I found was not only an organization that I believe in and support, but one that has become an extended family for me."

"Rotary is a great professional organization for young professionals looking for an avenue to get involved in local and international projects that benefit both the local community as well as the international community. Associating with like minded people and serving others makes our club truly unique and a special part of Menlo Park!"

"I have been a Menlo Park Rotary member for almost 2 years now. Having worked in Menlo Park for 10 years, I decided to join this amazing organization to get better connected with the greater Menlo Park community. Little did I know becoming a Rotarian would be more fulfilling than I could have expected. From the intriguing and though provoking speakers, to participating in local and international service projects, the Menlo Park Rotary Club is truly an institute worth becoming a part of."

"I had never considered joining Rotary--I thought of it as a club for retired men--until I attended my first meeting 3 years ago. I was impressed by the camaraderie of the members, and their genuine dedication to local and international causes. There's a wide array of projects for members to get involved in, and I look forward to seeing everyone at our weekly meetings. It has become a very important and fulfilling part of my life."