I

know what you might be thinking.

What in the world is the Rotary Club? Don’t worry, I had the same question.

I was looking for ways to get out into the community and a friend suggested the Rotary Club, but I had no idea who they were or what they did.

I contacted them and was invited to one of their meetings, but I still didn’t know what to expect.

Did they have a secret handshake? Or would there be a hooded figure demanding a password before I could enter?

What would I find?

My imagination was running wild. In hindsight, I could have just Googled the information to put my mind at ease.

Needless to say, my imagination was wrong, because what I found was a group of like-minded individuals whose sole purpose is to make their community and world a better place.

After one visit, I knew that this was an organization that I wanted to be a part of.

During my time as a member of Rotary, I have learned a lot about the organization.

Rotary International is the largest service organization in the world with a network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.

We promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene, save mothers and children, support education, grow local economies and we are on the verge of eradicating polio off the face of the planet.

Locally, we provide nursing scholarships, donate to local programs, oversee the clean up of the Rotary fountain in the heart of Ironton, but one of my favorites is the dictionary and thesaurus project.

Every year, the Rotary Club of Ironton donates dictionaries to every third grader and thesauruses to every fifth grader in Lawrence County.

Seeing a child’s face light up when they are handed their very own book is an amazing experience.

Joining the Rotary Club has made me a better person and I have met some amazing leaders who have the same goal as me,to serve the community and the world.

We live by the motto “Service Above Self” and believe that all it takes to do good in this world is an open mind and a willing heart.

If you would like more information on The Rotary Club, donating to our projects or joining, please visit our webpage www.IrontonRotaryClub.org.

Remember, your passion and perseverance could help Rotary create lasting change and make a difference at home and around the world.

Nathan Davis is president-elect of the Rotary Club of Ironton.