Messenger Intern

The Brundidge Rotary Club welcomed a special guest at its Wednesday meeting.

District Governor Bob Kelley, of Selma, spoke to the group about upcoming events and fundraisers and expressed a desire to improve communication among the different Rotary chapters.

Kelley also complimented Brundidge for its hardworking Rotary Club and the town’s pleasantness.

"When I came into town, I could tell there is something going on here. I don’t know what it is, but I can tell it is positive. I have been to many rural towns, but I didn’t get the goose bumps like I did here. I can tell you guys are really ‘sowing the seeds of love,’" Kelley said.

This year, Rotary International’s theme is "Sow the seeds of love."

As district governor, Kelley will meet with every chapter in the district during his year of service in the position. There are about 50 chapters in this district.

Kelley also discussed this year’s Rotary International President, Bhichai Rattakul, of Dhonburi, Thailand, who he described as being humble.

Kelley said the Rotary would be operated by a new way of thinking, because Rattakul has turned the pyramid of command upside down.

Rattakul said in a letter to Rotarians on the Rotary International website:

"I am a firm believer in working from the bottom up, rather than the top down. Rotarians themselves are in the best position to know what is important to their clubs and communities."

Troy Rotary Club President, Carol Franks said the affects of this mentality would trickle down to the different chapters.

"This is something new and it’s going to change things for us," she said.

Kelley will be visiting the Troy Rotary Club at the end of October.

In the letter Rattakul also said the individual clubs would set their own goals and initiate their own ideas. He also wants each club to determine how it will carry out activities in all of the four Avenues of Service (Club, Vocational, Community and International). Each club will also set its own membership and fundraising goals, "consistent with the bottom up approach."