Page 3 - Gears & Ears May 2015

Gears and Ears

Journal of the Rotary Club of Lake Buena Vista
Page 3
December 2014 May 2015
Page 3

Andre Allong, Dorothy Benson, Harry Boardman, David Brinckerhoff, Sonny

Buoncervello, Mel Butler, Dawn Grigsby, Fay Dallas, Sal Ferdico, Eddie Fernandez, Luis Figueroa,
Deb Flippo (aka, Wonder Woman), Chadwick Hardee, Rick Helsel, Alex Herandez, Francisco Infantini,

Cornelia Jung, Renata Lazo, Ray Maxwell, Rommel Mosquera, Jose Mota, Shawn Rommerdahl, Jeff
Smith, Garth Walker, Todd Wiederkehr, and Phil Wright. This truly shows that we are “one!”

At this moment, our club has raised $9,000 and the event has raised just under $100,000.
Thank you!

YIRS,

Marti Trieschmann, President

Some Thoughts about Relay

“Altruism” is defined as the unselfish concern for the welfare of others. Given this, I would say that
Relay for Life is a truly altruistic event because it aims to provide funds to the American Cancer
Society (ACS) in support of the quest to eradicate a hated and all-too-often deadly disease. While a
great majority of those who get involved in the planning and implementation of Relay have been
touched by cancer in some way— either as current victims, survivors, caregivers, or as those who
have lost or are losing loved ones—their motivation is neither selfish nor related to what they can
derive from participating. They do it because of their strong desire to further the ACS cause and
mission. This kind of selfless dedication is the hallmark of Relay for Life, and we can be very proud
that our club was instrumental in bringing the event to Lake Buena Vista. This year, the more than
$9,000 we raised will go directly to the ACS. No part of the donations and earnings comes back to the
club, making this the purest form of altruism. It embodies the very nature of Rotary as a service
organization.

I believe Relay for Life is worth every ounce of dedication, talent, effort, and funds we invest in
it. What does come back to us as individuals, and therefore to the club, is an amazing feeling of
fulfillment along with wonderful memories of the fun, craziness, camaraderie, and bonding we
experience before, during and after the event. There is also that lump-in-the-throat sadness evoked
by the reminders we see all around us of the costs of that terrible disease. Especially heart-tugging
and moving are the survivor and caregiver laps around the track and later the luminaria ceremony at
night. With the entire area in darkness, except for the glow the candle-lit paper bags ringing the track,
each in honor or memory of a loved one, the place erupts in a brief but amazing display of fireworks
that tells us that all is not glum—that there is hope for the future and for the day when we will no longer
need to hold these Relay for Life events. Augustine Campana