Sam, I love this post and will listen to the NY Times interview. It boosts my spirits and makes me feel better about something to which I devote a great deal of time, and sometimes feel burned out by it. I'm not talking about the weekly run meetup I organize. I'm talking about my role as president of our local Rotary Club.
Rotary is a nonreligious, nonpolitical service organization with about 1.2 million members globally. My dad was always involved and would connect with Rotary clubs nationally and internationally when he traveled. When I moved here to Telluride full time, I inquired about the local Rotary Club, which my dad had been active in, and discovered it had dwindled to about a dozen retirees. Out of a sense of duty and to honor my dad (who died in 2013), I joined and got sucked into revitalizing the club. We now have 40 members, many of whom are working professionals and younger than I. We meet twice/month and feature guest speakers on topics of regional interest. We do community service projects and support international projects that align with Rotary's seven areas of interest (peace and conflict resolution, maternal/child health, literacy, clean water and sanitation, environment, economic development, disease prevention). It's a big tent politically, bringing together mostly conservative oldsters with more progressive millennials/GenZ, all for the sake of service and promoting peace and health. So that's my pitch, in addition to run clubs—check out your local Rotary club.
I think I'll draw on your post's points and the NYT interview for my remarks at the next meeting :-)
THAT'S AMAZING. And that bridging across generations and cohorts and class is the most important part, according to Putnam. And, sadly, running now draws from a less diverse group than it did a few decades ago (although a lot of folks are working to change that!). Your push is a great one. I'll check out our local Rotary club. We def have one: https://www.oakland-rotary.org/
Thank you. It’s been a shit ton of unpaid work for me the past six years, and this is my second term as president, but I do feel it’s worth it for the social connections it makes and service it does, and my dad would be proud. Also I like being a change agent and evolving Rotary, which has some antiquated traditions. This year I did away with the unnecessary tradition of starting each meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, which is unnecessary since we’re a global organization and the Pledge has been politicized/weaponized by the Right. I felt it important our club be welcoming to our community’s immigrant community, and I got feedback that to them the Pledge is viewed as a political litmus test and anti-immigrant (sadly). So I made that change and ruffled some feathers but change is important. Don’t be surprised if you find Oakland’s club to be predominantly male and old-school. Some are slower to change.
Hi, Sarah and Sam. I just discovered Sam’s Substack and while reading this post I immediately thought of Rotary. I joined the Rotary Club in Erin, Ontario, Canada a couple of years ago. When I joined I knew very little about Rotary itself but I was aware of the impact that the Rotary Club of Erin has in our community. Our unofficial motto is “We get sh*t done!”.
And although I see my own running primarily as a solitary activity, I say yes to running clubs, volunteering at local races and fund raising through running.
Thank you for this post, Sam. And I am pleased to learn about the Telluride Rotary Club.
Rotary Club of Erin has been around for 25 years. We hold 3 fundraising events annually – this year a portion of the proceeds are going to benefit youth in the community. We also hold a family-oriented event in February that offers free activities for kids and their parents. This year we worked in conjunction with the local high school to host an event to promote mental wellness. Erin Rotary has worked with the Town of Erin to develop and maintain trails in the area for public use. We are a small club but we get stuff done!
Actually I just looked at Oakland's Rotary site and it looks like it's thriving and well established. That's great! They probably are better organized than our smaller one. It's probably a good way to meet locals you ordinarily would not meet.
I've made a note to contact them today. It looks like they meet weekly on Thursdays near where I'm working and I might be able to join if that's a suitable forum to check them out!
...”I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” -Groucho Marx- ...this is a great article Sam...so much talk about loneliness is the espers that can easily be solved by just joining anything...i have a monthly dork club that gathers nerds from around to world to make bad jokes and play online trivia and comedy games...started by accident during the pandemic and still alive and useful as a way to stay current with friends...someone on this app last night was asking the world how to make friends online...i think the answer is to try things, do things, and as you posit join things...
I listened to the podcast a couple of days ago. Really thought provoking regarding the origins of Boy's Club (later Boy's /Girl's Club) and Boy Scouts to address similar crisises a hundred years ago. I find myself avoiding club or social organizations because my livelihood involves people all day and I enjoy solitude and personal time alone, but am prompted to explore something with others more deliberately. Thanks
Another good one! So proud of you and your dedication to this newsletter! You always make me think and sometimes feel uncomfortable (in a good way!) ! ❤️
Great newsletter! Look forward to listening to the podcast….We are created to live in community. This reminded me of the Allegory of the Long Spoons…best short video of that is here:
Probably! Haha, I do like his show a lot. I kept thinking about how Cronkite turned on LBJ during the Vietnam War when Klein said Biden should step down months ago. He's sort of the generational equivalent for the podcasting class.
Sam, I love this post and will listen to the NY Times interview. It boosts my spirits and makes me feel better about something to which I devote a great deal of time, and sometimes feel burned out by it. I'm not talking about the weekly run meetup I organize. I'm talking about my role as president of our local Rotary Club.
Rotary is a nonreligious, nonpolitical service organization with about 1.2 million members globally. My dad was always involved and would connect with Rotary clubs nationally and internationally when he traveled. When I moved here to Telluride full time, I inquired about the local Rotary Club, which my dad had been active in, and discovered it had dwindled to about a dozen retirees. Out of a sense of duty and to honor my dad (who died in 2013), I joined and got sucked into revitalizing the club. We now have 40 members, many of whom are working professionals and younger than I. We meet twice/month and feature guest speakers on topics of regional interest. We do community service projects and support international projects that align with Rotary's seven areas of interest (peace and conflict resolution, maternal/child health, literacy, clean water and sanitation, environment, economic development, disease prevention). It's a big tent politically, bringing together mostly conservative oldsters with more progressive millennials/GenZ, all for the sake of service and promoting peace and health. So that's my pitch, in addition to run clubs—check out your local Rotary club.
I think I'll draw on your post's points and the NYT interview for my remarks at the next meeting :-)
THAT'S AMAZING. And that bridging across generations and cohorts and class is the most important part, according to Putnam. And, sadly, running now draws from a less diverse group than it did a few decades ago (although a lot of folks are working to change that!). Your push is a great one. I'll check out our local Rotary club. We def have one: https://www.oakland-rotary.org/
Thank you. It’s been a shit ton of unpaid work for me the past six years, and this is my second term as president, but I do feel it’s worth it for the social connections it makes and service it does, and my dad would be proud. Also I like being a change agent and evolving Rotary, which has some antiquated traditions. This year I did away with the unnecessary tradition of starting each meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, which is unnecessary since we’re a global organization and the Pledge has been politicized/weaponized by the Right. I felt it important our club be welcoming to our community’s immigrant community, and I got feedback that to them the Pledge is viewed as a political litmus test and anti-immigrant (sadly). So I made that change and ruffled some feathers but change is important. Don’t be surprised if you find Oakland’s club to be predominantly male and old-school. Some are slower to change.
Hi, Sarah and Sam. I just discovered Sam’s Substack and while reading this post I immediately thought of Rotary. I joined the Rotary Club in Erin, Ontario, Canada a couple of years ago. When I joined I knew very little about Rotary itself but I was aware of the impact that the Rotary Club of Erin has in our community. Our unofficial motto is “We get sh*t done!”.
And although I see my own running primarily as a solitary activity, I say yes to running clubs, volunteering at local races and fund raising through running.
Thank you for this post, Sam. And I am pleased to learn about the Telluride Rotary Club.
Amazing! Neil, thanks so much. What are some of the things you’ve worked on with Rotary in Erin? 🙂
Rotary Club of Erin has been around for 25 years. We hold 3 fundraising events annually – this year a portion of the proceeds are going to benefit youth in the community. We also hold a family-oriented event in February that offers free activities for kids and their parents. This year we worked in conjunction with the local high school to host an event to promote mental wellness. Erin Rotary has worked with the Town of Erin to develop and maintain trails in the area for public use. We are a small club but we get stuff done!
You should make tee shirts with just a Get Stuff Done acronym: “GSD!”
Actually I just looked at Oakland's Rotary site and it looks like it's thriving and well established. That's great! They probably are better organized than our smaller one. It's probably a good way to meet locals you ordinarily would not meet.
I've made a note to contact them today. It looks like they meet weekly on Thursdays near where I'm working and I might be able to join if that's a suitable forum to check them out!
Good for you! LMK how it goes.
...”I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.” -Groucho Marx- ...this is a great article Sam...so much talk about loneliness is the espers that can easily be solved by just joining anything...i have a monthly dork club that gathers nerds from around to world to make bad jokes and play online trivia and comedy games...started by accident during the pandemic and still alive and useful as a way to stay current with friends...someone on this app last night was asking the world how to make friends online...i think the answer is to try things, do things, and as you posit join things...
Totally agree. I want to join your dork club!
I listened to the podcast a couple of days ago. Really thought provoking regarding the origins of Boy's Club (later Boy's /Girl's Club) and Boy Scouts to address similar crisises a hundred years ago. I find myself avoiding club or social organizations because my livelihood involves people all day and I enjoy solitude and personal time alone, but am prompted to explore something with others more deliberately. Thanks
That’s well said. I also definitely need solitude to recharge. Are there any particular groups or activities you are interested in exploring?
Another good one! So proud of you and your dedication to this newsletter! You always make me think and sometimes feel uncomfortable (in a good way!) ! ❤️
Aw, thanks, Mom.
Absolutely loved this one, Sam!
Thanks so much, Terrell!
Great newsletter! Look forward to listening to the podcast….We are created to live in community. This reminded me of the Allegory of the Long Spoons…best short video of that is here:
https://youtu.be/e4lI8e33U2A?si=CDznBINvclsxRmvb
and I assume you as an Ezra Klein fan too!
Thank you! Will check out Galloway! Oh yeah, been following Klein since his Vox days. Yesterday was like National Ezra Klein Vindication Day.
lol. I'm mixing my days up in a time zone of GMT+8, but I believe you were referring to the episode of him ranting, what is a party for?
Probably! Haha, I do like his show a lot. I kept thinking about how Cronkite turned on LBJ during the Vietnam War when Klein said Biden should step down months ago. He's sort of the generational equivalent for the podcasting class.
Agreed. Klein and Malcolm Gladwell.
You might enjoy Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway's show Pivot too... though it might be too close to home.
Love this. I have been a fan of Putnam's work... and his recent interview with the NYT was fantastic.
On that note, Scott Galloway's recent essay Misdirects addresses the lonely young men issue in the US. Worth reading.
This is so wise and important. Thanks for posting about it!
Hey, thanks so much, Anjali!