Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Rotary District Governor Robert “Bob” Gross encourages members of the Rotary Club of Barnwell County to give of themselves.
Rotary Club of Barnwell County President Trish Gordon (right) presents Angela Cotton a pin in recognition of serving as the club's treasurer for 2022-2023.
Rotary District Governor Robert “Bob” Gross, Assistant District Governor Butch Byron, and District Safety Officer Chief Brett Camp joined the Rotary Club of Barnwell County at the September 22, 2022 meeting.
District Governor Gross was present to address local Rotarians and discuss Rotary International’s new theme and priorities for the Rotary year. A member of the Sea Island Rotary Club in Beaufort, Gross has been a Rotarian for 27 years and served in many Rotarian leadership roles, including the Sea Island Rotary Club president in 2006-2007. Currently he serves as the District 7770 Governor, as well as being a 10-Star Rotarian, Paul Harris Fellow, and a member of the Paul Harris Society. As an active Rotarian, he has visited Rotary Clubs in 10 countries and has attended seven Rotary International Conventions.
Gross was in Barnwell visiting with the local Rotary Club as he travels across District 7770 visiting every club that is part of the Rotarian district. Rotary District 7770 comprises the 27 eastern counties of South Carolina (the remainder of the state is in District 7750) and includes 74 Rotary clubs. He spoke about Rotary’s seven areas of service: Peace and Conflict Prevention / Resolution, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Water and Sanitation, Maternal and Child Health, Basic Education and Literacy, Economic and Community Development, and Protecting the Environment. In speaking of the work Rotary does globally and locally, Gross urged Rotarians to give of themselves to exemplify Rotary’s motto of “Service above Self.”
Gross also shared with local Rotarians the theme for this year’s Rotary Clubs - “Imagine Rotary.” He encouraged Rotarians, “Imagine a world without polio. Imagine a world with clean water for everyone. Imagine a world free of disease. Imagine a world where every child learns to read. Imagine kindness, hope, love and peace. He said these are what the first female president of Rotary International Jennifer Jones wants Rotarians to imagine.”
Another focus of Rotary is clean drinking water for all. Gross shared how Rotary has worked for decades to provide people with clean water by digging wells, laying pipes, providing filters, and installing sinks and toilets. Gross said 3.6 million people in the world die from waterborne illnesses. He said this is something the world is suffering from, and every 15 seconds a child dies from a waterborne illness.
Gross explained how Rotary’s disaster relief efforts are helping many people impacted by natural disasters and conflicts. Sharing specifically about ShelterBox USA, Gross explained how Rotary partners with this charitable organization to provide emergency disaster relief to displaced families around the world due to natural disasters and conflicts. Gross has been challenging each club in the district to contribute $1,000 toward the ShelterBox USA project.
Also during the Rotary meeting, President Trish Gordon presented Rotarian Angela Cotton with her Treasurer pin for serving in that leadership role for the 2022-2023 Rotary year. Gross also congratulated Foundation Chair Jason Stapleton and Rotary President Trish Gordon for the local club’s work in achieving 2-STAR status. The 2-Star Award signifies annual Rotary Foundation contributions of at least $200 per club member. The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
To learn more about the Rotary Club, visit www.rotary.org. Please contact Rotary Club Secretary Lynn McEwen if you are interested in membership in the local Rotary Club.
