Fellowship and Rotary are a little like peanut butter and jelly. Separately, they are good. Together, they’re wonderful.
A major aspect of the Rotary Club of Farragut – and of all Rotary clubs – is fellowship. It’s in Rotary’s DNA. It’s real and genuine.
It happens at the weekly meetings and during the hours spent working side-by-side at service projects. If a Rotarian is out of town and visits another club to make up a missed meeting, you’re warmly welcomed into the fellowship of that club, whether in the U.S. or overseas.
A pair of Farragut Rotarians in early May participated in another avenue of fellowship of Rotary International that matches their motorcycle-riding hobbies. Longtime Rotarians the Rev. David Bluford and Terry Kerbs were part of a 1,300-mile ride with the International Fellowship of Motorcycle Rotarians on May 4-7. On May 3 they rode from Knoxville to the home base for the ride in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
The group of riders included several from Canada, others from West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Tennessee.
Bluford rides a gold Harley Davidson “Hawg” and Kerbs loves his three-wheel Can-AM Spyder RT Limited Edition.
After leaving Somerset, the Rotary biker gang stopped to visit the “Flight 93 National Memorial” in Shanksville. “We’ve visited the Memorial before, but wanted to stop again and remember those who fought against terrorism on September 11, 2001. It was a very moving experience that we both enjoyed,” Bluford said.
The cycling Rotarians also visited the beautiful Fallingwater home in Mill Run, designed by the late Frank Lloyd Wright. “The tour of the home was very good and Wright’s design certainly was unique,” Bluford said. They also enjoyed the views from the overlook of the Youghiogheny River Gorge and the beautiful Laurel Highlands of southwest Pennsylvania, stopping for a view atop the highest point in Pennsylvania, Mt. Davis, at 3,213 feet above sea level.
“The joy of meeting other Rotarians from various parts of North America who share in our fellowship as part of the Rotary experience is always wonderful. Hearing their Rotary stories at their local clubs provides us insight into the connection of Rotarians all around the world.”
Tom King is a career journalist and a past president of the Rotary Club of Farragut. If you want more information about Rotary or are interested in attending a meeting or joining, please email Tom. The club meets every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. at Fox Den Country Club.