LEXINGTON, KY – The Rotary Club of Lexington held its weekly meeting Thursday, June 22, at The Mane on Main, Chase Bank building on Main St. The program’s speaker was President Winn Stephens addressing the club for this final program of the 2022-2023 year.
This meeting was also be on Zoom. For the Zoom link please email, trafton@rotarylexky.org.
If you would like to have lunch, please contact Jenny@rotarylexky.org to reserve your meal.
THE WINN COLUMN
“A journey is a person in itself; no two are alike.” – John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
My Rotary journey started in 2014. Bill Cox had been on me about joining Rotary for a number of years and I finally decided to take him up on the offer. I was struck by how many people immediately reached out to me after joining – most with a simple message of welcome and some inviting me to join a committee. The first committee I joined was the song committee. My initial podium appearance involved a somewhat successful attempt to get the club to sing Row, Row, Row Your Boat in a round. A number of committees and volunteer opportunities later, I ended up on the board and then came that fateful call from Dave Williams asking me to serve as President.
Like any good journey there have been some interesting stops along the way. I love playing Santa at the Christmas party for Booker T. Washington. I made a connection with one particular kindergarten student who is now headed to middle school (and thriving). By the way, looking back through the post-Covid lens, I can’t believe we all shared the same Santa beards. The first time I called upon God to bless the UK Football program during the invocation before Coach Stoops spoke, I was so concerned about being blasphemous I read my prayer to my priest (who approved). There were the calls and texts from my wife, older sister, mother, and mother-in-law questioning how I could dare allow our precious four-year-old son go mutton bustin’ at the Lexington Rodeo. I will carry the image of the pure joy expressed by the Miracle League Players crossing home with me for a long, long time.
That was the journey to the podium, but it is my arrival there that I continue to find so astonishing. As Lexington’s premier service organization boasting nearly 110 years of aiding the community, Commonwealth, nation, and world, I am so humbled to have had this opportunity. Frankly, it stuns me that anyone would consider me worthy of this immense honor. Organizations are only as good as the people in them. For over a century, the Rotary Club of Lexington has been recognized as the finest group of people in Lexington and its reputation for excellence is known throughout Rotary International. Thank you for being a part of that legacy and allowing me to represent this fine group.
I look forward to continuing my Rotary journey with you!
- Winn Stephens