There is a phrase every Rotarian knows: Service Above Self.
We see it in the projects our clubs undertake, the funds we raise, the young people we support, and the communities we strengthen.
But sometimes the purest examples of Service Above Self are much quieter.
As District Governor Linda Kaye Briggs travels throughout District 5020 visiting our clubs, she is discovering people whose names may not always appear in the headlines. They aren't necessarily standing at the microphone or receiving the applause.
They are simply there. Week after week. Year after year. Seeing what needs to be done and doing it.
These are our Unsung Heroes.
At the Rotary Club of Kingston North Kitsap, that description fits Helen Ralph especially well.
Helen helped charter the club approximately 22 years ago and has served as its treasurer and a board member for nearly 20 of them. But "treasurer" hardly captures what she does.
Catering. Permits. Licensing. Banking. Insurance. Filing fees. Storage. Signage. Coordination with local businesses. The countless details that rarely make anyone's list of exciting Rotary projects, but without which those projects might never happen.
Helen has a remarkable ability to recognize what needs to be done and simply take care of it, without being asked and without looking for recognition.
And in the same club, a newer Rotarian is demonstrating that becoming an unsung hero doesn't require decades of membership.
David Fortune has been a member for less than two years, yet he has already stepped forward as Club Foundation Treasurer, board member, and Youth Exchange Officer. He organizes, leads, solves problems, and takes responsibility because something needs to be done.
Different generations of Rotary service. The same spirit.
Travel south to the Rotary Club of Shelton Skookum, and you'll find Nancy Kissner, a 20-year member and Paul Harris Fellow who also prefers to stay in the background.
As a CPA, Nancy puts her expertise to work making sure club and foundation funds are managed properly. She helps maintain the organization's nonprofit status, tracks accounts and investments, handles the financial side of international commitments, and supports the club's largest fundraiser, OysterFest.
When thousands of people enjoy a successful Rotary event, few are thinking about invoices, expense tracking or whether money has been deposited in the right account. Nancy is.
That's Service Above Self, too.
Farther north, at the Rotary Club of Courtenay, Past President Derek Newnes has spent more than 30 years putting Service Above Self into practice. And anyone who has heard his laugh knows that quiet service can come with a joyful voice.
Derek helps set up club meetings, works events from setup to takedown, manages the barbecue grill, and sells 50/50 tickets at fundraisers. He mentors others and steps forward whenever another pair of hands is needed.
His commitment to young people is especially meaningful. He meets monthly with Interact students, supports their fundraising, and helps them participate in club events, often providing transportation himself. He also opens his home to Rotary exchange students, for extended stays or as a respite host.
That generosity reaches well beyond home. Alongside his financial contributions, Derek has volunteered overseas to support clean water and children's education initiatives.
And when Derek brings his family to a club event, three generations may be there. For him, Rotary really is a family affair. His kindness and willingness to help give fellow members, young people, and his own family a living example of what service looks like.
And at the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island, you'll often find Gary LaVoy sitting at a computer while others are visiting and making conversation.
Gary is part of the club's TechOps team, keeping presentations, videos, communications and other technology running smoothly. During the club's auction and rummage sale, he was there every day managing technology and billing systems amid what was aptly described as "controlled chaos."
His service extends beyond Rotary as well, including emergency response, amateur radio and community preparedness work.
Gary sees a need, brings his skills and gets to work.
There is something wonderfully Rotary about all of these stories. None of these Unsung Heroes serves in exactly the same way. Some have given decades. Others are relatively new. Some contribute financial expertise. Others manage technology, logistics, records, or organizational systems.
What they share is something much more important. They make themselves useful. They take responsibility. They contribute their talents.
And they do it without needing recognition in return.
Service Above Self isn't always a grand gesture.
Sometimes it is arriving early. Balancing the books. Fixing the technology. Filing the paperwork. Keeping a promise. Remembering the details. Or quietly doing something for the hundredth time because everyone else is counting on you to do it.
As Linda Kaye continues her journey through District 5020, we'll continue sharing the stories of these remarkable Rotarians.
Because every club has them.
And perhaps one of the best ways we can celebrate Service Above Self is to occasionally turn the spotlight toward the people who never asked to stand in it.
To the Unsung Heroes of District 5020: we see you, we appreciate you, and Rotary is stronger because of you.
