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SUE STRAETER The Emmaus Rotary would like to spotlight past President Sue Straeter. The following is a transcript of that interview with Wade George: ERC: Your membership in Rotary goes back to May of 2004. When you think about that, does it seem like 16 years ago that you first joined? SS: Sixteen years in Rotary went by quickly— the years changed the membership of ERC. Many longtime Rotarian friends are no longer here. The upside is welcoming new members with energy and fresh perspectives. Active new members help our club thrive at a time when many service clubs appear to be losing popularity. ERC: As a matter of fact, who or what first led you down the path to being a Rotarian? SS: Prior to 2004, Bob Bisbing, past membership chair, came to an Open House for the community at The Hillside School. Several times thereafter, Bob encouraged me to join Rotary to promote awareness of the School in the business community. In 2004, I joined for selfish reasons and stayed for service above self. ERC: Have you always been a strong piano player? Tell us more about your journey to becoming our primary person who plays the tunes that make our songs go each Thursday? SS: I don’t consider myself a strong piano player. Weekly piano lessons were a part of my childhood. I enjoy playing, especially in an accompaniment rather than solo role. I reluctantly accepted the pianist position at ERC after now deceased George Boyer, an outstanding professional musician, moved out of the area. Most of the membership was kind during the transition considering my musicality paled in comparison to what they enjoyed from George’s skilled hands. I humbly look for the next Rotary piano player. He or she will not have such “big shoes” to fill. ERC: As a former school administrator and as a woman in Rotary, in many ways you are an inspiration to others. Do you ever think on the fact that, at one time, women were not officially members and their participation as a Rotarian was primarily through spouses? Does this give you a sense of a greater connection to the history of our club? SS: I rarely think about the times when women were not welcomed as members. That’s a compliment to our Emmaus Rotary Club. I have read about the process and final acceptance of women into Rotary in 1987. I knew husbands of college friends who quit Rotary at that time. Women were “Rotary Anns” or belonged to the “Inner Wheel”. They were invested in Rotary, yet not “Rotarians”. I appreciate that our club invites and encourages women to join. ERC: It must be a source of both pride and excitement for you to see so many younger women taking such an active role in our club. What words of advice or guidance would you like to send their way? SS: Being a Rotarian means allocating time, money and energy to the club, WHILE keeping a balance between family, career and community. My advice to younger women taking an active role in our club is: 1) Live the 4-Way Test, 2) take advantage of Rotary training…useful in Rotary and in your career, 3) When asked to help on a committee, respond, and finally, 4) remember, there is no feminine or masculine distinction in the word ROTARIAN. ERC: In your journey as a Rotarian, is there a specific event, person, or moment that is most memorable? SS: I have been edified and mentored by many members. As a first year Rotarian, Gul Asnani’s invitation to join a 3-H grant Committee for Women was a turning point. At the time I was a single, working mom with 2 daughters and a staff of women at Hillside School…I was particularly interested in the welfare of working women. I joined the committee and the experience was memorable: In partnership with the Rotary Club of Poona North, our club facilitated small loans to 5,226 village women in the Poona North region of India. Borrowing less than $100, women continue to start businesses. The women repay the loans so other women can benefit. Dr. Sudhatai Kothari, Managing Trustee assured Gul that the program continues successfully. Rotary projects are sustainable! I received a photo and note showing a woman who started a goatery. I think about her often. Visiting northern England on a Rotary Friendship exchange was a life-changing trip! We made friends who keep in touch and toured a part of the world with “insiders” -Rotarians who live and work there. Rotary is a network of world-wide friends who share the desire to make lasting change for a better world. ERC: As you look forward to many more years of fun and service, what are some goals you have for both yourself and our club? As I look forward to a future in Rotary, I realize the importance of upgrading my goals based on age and changing times—keeping up, maintaining and moving forward! I want to explore Rotary action groups (RAGs) and online learning experiences. I enjoy visiting different clubs when we travel using my Club Runner App. I will be involved with a couple of District 7430 duties for 2021-22. As ERC chair of the Emmaus Community Flag Day Celebration, we will be coordinating essay/poetry writing from 3rd and 5th grade students, planning and organizing the program for June 14th. This is a new venture for ERC. We want to provide a moving patriotic experience for the community. ERC leadership has been successful in articulating club goals like membership growth initiatives, continued projects through community service, district and global grants, growing our scholarship fund, encouraging active Interact members, and Foundation support. I look forward to returning to face-to-face Rotary meetings, however, integrating in-person and online members is a goal for the future, as we provide options for meeting attendance. (Many thanks to Wade George for conducting this interview and providing the content) |
What holds us together are Rotary’s Core Values.
