July 10 – Installation of Officers and a Look at the Year Ahead

MORE ROTARY!

“More Cowbell” is a hilarious comedy sketch that was originally performed on Saturday Night Live in 2000.  The sketch featured Will Ferrell and Christopher Walken in a studio recording the Blue Oyster Cult song “Don’t Fear the Reaper.”  The fictional music producer Walken repeatedly demands “more cowbell,” and Will Farrell responds enthusiastically in an over-the-top style until, rather than setting the beat, the cowbell completely dominates the song and the action in the sketch.  The skit’s popularity and the phrase “more cowbell” has morphed into a popular American catchphrase which is even defined in dictionaries as “an extra quality that will make something or someone better.”

You may be wondering what “more cowbell” has to do with Rotary.  And for those who have never seen the skit, you are probably asking what in the world is this guy writing about?  I humbly submit that actively participation in Rotary is precisely the “extra quality that will make something or someone better” Just as more cowbell was demanded by Christopher Walken, I believe that in 2025, Lexington, our Commonwealth, our nation, indeed our world, demands “More Rotary.”   The list of needs and opportunities for service are daunting and we know Rotarians are ready to serve.

The following are a few ideas on what More Rotary might mean, for individuals and for our Club as a whole:

1. Commit to attending Rotary weekly, to sharing a meal and getting to know as many Rotarians as possible.  Our Club is full of members whose work and extracurricular activities have yielded amazing results and they have incredibly interesting stories to share. We want to share more of their stories and accomplishments with our members.
2. Recruit a new Rotarian. The concept of More Rotary is based on introducing committed and engaged people to Rotary and growing our membership.  The process is simple and starts with inviting someone you know to attend a meeting.  Who do you know who would be a great Rotarian?  Bring them to Rotary.
3. Find your place in Rotary. We have multiple positions, needs and opportunities for everyone to be of service. We can all benefit from your talents and skills. If you are uncertain how to plug in, you only need to ask.
4. As a club, we need to tell the story of Rotary often, louder and with more enthusiasm. We can no longer hide our light under a bushel, and we need to remember to sell Rotary.
5. Survey results and individual Club members encourage us to develop an aspirational, important service project in Lexington with which to engage our members and make a difference in our community. We have a few ideas and are still open to recommendations, but we need to finalize our plans so we can mobilize as quickly as possible. Developing this project is paramount to our success.

I am honored to kick off this Rotary year as President and excited to serve with Bill, Dean, and Jim and all our members as we Unite for Good. I know that with More Rotary, we will make a difference.

• Jamie Schrader