Hi team,
Tonight the Town of Warren held a discussion of the Warren Parade. The online chatter leading up to it suggested this might be a contentious meeting calling for the Rotary’s dismissal. In fact, it was anything but. The Selectboard started by expressing sincere gratitude to the MRV Rotary for our hard work and dedication to “Service Above Self.” I then walked through the attached slides. Then we opened it up for discussion from the crowd.
Sentiments were a beautifully diverse array. Some believe the parade has exceeded the town’s capacity. Some wished for more crowd-control and better management of the parade given the size and opportunity for disruptive behavior. Many mentioned their affinity for the parade and a willingness to endure 8-hours of inconvenience each year for the service to the community. We received constructive feedback, some of which we’ll incorporate to run an even better parade next year.
Most importantly, the club showed up for one another. I walked in feeling a little more nervous than I expected. And then I saw a dozen rotary members in the crowd, and another group online. I immediately smiled and relaxed and thought: this isn’t me up there. It's us. This experience truly built goodwill and better friendships.
All in all, a nice experience that left the Parade Committee feeling appreciated, supported, and excited to incorporate this feedback for an even better event next year. So many of you play a role in this parade. THANK YOU!!! Thousands upon thousands of community members experience cherished memories because of your dedication and hard work. And we’ll do it again next year, because Rotarians show up!
Thanks all,
Ben