A Message from Devo Anderson

2024-2025 Claremont Sunrise Rotary Club President

First, I'm grateful to Claremont Sunrise Rotary for trusting me as Club President.

And thank you for taking a moment to visit our site to learn about Rotary; it would be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.

Because it’s said, “People Don't Care How Much You Know Until They Know How Much You Care” I’d like to take a moment to share my "why" –

I joined Claremont Sunrise Rotary (we go by ‘CSR’ for short) as a ‘Rotary Member’ in 2018 but I considered myself a ‘Rotarian’ long before that. (The difference in terms will make sense if you hang in there with me!)

Going back in time to around 2009, my then-girlfriend and now-wife (you can stalk her on the Membership page) introduced me to Rotary through service projects and fellowship. Fellowship is Rotarian code for fun, eating, and drinking too much which our club does plenty of - we're know locally as the fun club!

Although fun and always welcoming - at first, I was intimidated by this membership organization called Rotary – judges, business owners, city council members, lawyers, academics, -- the mayor!

Of all the orbits of friends we have through our lives, whether they come from high school, college and schooling beyond, our careers, volunteerism, kids sports and our sports; this orbit of Rotarian philanthropists is my favorite group.  They say the five people closest to you predict who you’ll become and picking a bundle of any five of our members is an impressive showing. I subconsciously decided to belong.

A few years later, my then-fiancée became CSR President for her initial time and we had invited the whole membership to our wedding.  During the engagement period, we attended an event where a Rotarian related an amazing talk about their Polio NID in India (NID = National Immunization Day). Now, I’m half-Indian and have been to India several times so it’s nowhere near the top of my honeymoon bucket list.  Alas, my fiancée was hooked - you already know where this is going.

My hot-off-the-presses wife and I are now on our 2012 Honeymoon.

On a Rotary Polio NID trip.

Giving Immunizations.

In India.

For good measure, we decided to add some sweat labor building a community dam.

No forklifts or backhoes or power tools.

Just shovels and buckets.

And sweat.

In India.

As you do.

Below was the moment I became a ‘Rotarian’, -- saving kids from the crippling effects of Polio. 

That's the Rotarian moment.  On that India trip.  If it happened to me, it could happen to you.  Let it.

Reminder - I hadn’t yet become a ‘Rotary Member’.

If you follow our Rotary Club District conferences and trainings and such for over a decade, they will take you to every hot spot in California/Nevada; from kitschy to ritzy. I’ve been to Pasadena and San Diego and Las Vegas and Palm Springs and all spots in between more times than I can remember.

What has been more memorable, is broadening out to attend several Rotary International Conventions in New Orleans, Toronto, and Hamburg each with its own flair and keynotes by honoraries such as former First Lady Laura Bush and richest-man-in-the-world-at-the-time Bill Gates. Our tentative plan is to attend the Hawai’i convention in 2027 (others upcoming are Calgary 2025, Taipei 2026, TBD 2028, Minneapolis 2029, Chicago 2030).

Okay, okay, I promised I’d get to why I became an official dues-paying, pin-wearing ‘Rotary Member’.

As my wife’s second presidency for 2017-2018 was winding down, there are a few contributing reasons –

1. It's as simple as I was asked by the member who turned out to be my sponsor (CSR sponsor, not the other kind, although I’ve been accused!).  Getting asked by someone you love and respect is a big deal and we as members take for granted that we need to say out loud that we would be honored if our family, friends, and associates would join us in Rotary service.

2. I had come to a place where I was in a position to contribute and, humbly by my estimation, had lived into being worthy of membership in this impressive group.

Finally -

3. Selfishly, I wanted to help my wife’s membership stats at the end of her presidential year. LOL

Winston Churchill said, “Americans can always be trusted to do the right thing, once all other possibilities have been exhausted.” I guess my road is atypical leading first from Rotarian to Rotary Member, but Churchill predicted my doing the right thing becoming a Rotarian Member in the end.

Rotary’s theme this year is “The Magic of Rotary” and my Rotary moment was that India NID. If you’ll start this video about one minute in and watch for the final two minutes, you’ll be inspired by Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick’s Rotary magic moment.

That's why Stephanie and I do it - you wouldn't have read this far if you weren't interested in at least learning more or feeling like something is missing for you.

Through our socials below and here on the site, you’ll find eclectic examples of Claremont Sunrise Rotary’s advocacy for local youth development, international house builds, overseas landmine removal, 3rd-world country mammogram machine donation, shopping for Claremont's seniors, ice cream socials for persons with disabilities, sponsoring Claremont Police Department's newest police therapy dog, the list could go on and on. And on. 

We're people of action, I hope you will come experience Claremont Sunrise Rotary.

We would be honored if you would join us,
Devo

PS - I personally invite you to come have breakfast and listen to an engaging program speaker with Claremont Sunrise Rotary, otherwise come partake in an evening social or roll up your sleeves for a hands-on service project taking action to help make things better.