This week I was installed as a member of the Odessa Rotary Club, yet another organization I grew up with due to my family's involvement.
Granny was a charter member of the club, and always bragged that it was the first Rotary International club to be chartered with female members.
Once upon a time, Odessa had a large restaurant called Countryside, which served all sorts of country style dinners, but had a fried chicken lunch buffet that was to die for. When I was in high school and working at the paper over the summers, Granny started taking me to Rotary with her, where I was jokingly referred to as the junior member. I was, of course, in my mind there to eat fried chicken, mashed potatoes, chicken noodle soup and rolls with apple butter, but I couldn't help but pay attention. It really stuck out to me that the organization's motto — Service Above Self — was something Granny had been teaching me in some way or another my entire life.
I've been around the edges of what Rotary does for the past several years, including walking some other new members through what the organization is, but after Granny died several members reached out to have me start coming to meetings. It's yet another room to be the youngest in, but I'm excited to help the club with its projects in the Odessa area. I got a certain look from Judy Stiles, the club president, when enthusiasm was mentioned in the installation, so I think they know what they're in for.