Laura Young, Portland Rotary’s 103rd President, took to the rostrum Friday in her inaugural address to talk about the value of Rotary and the reasons she embraced the challenge of being President. “It’s all about the WHY,” she said. “Why do you get out of bed in the morning? Why should we care? What drives you and inspires you.” Echoing the words of Simon Sinek, in his TEDx talk, “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” (https://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action?language=en)) she said those who start with the “why,” have the ability to inspire others. “Rotary is a nice thread in my life,” she said.
 
Laura shared the learnings of several authors who have focused on the value of social organizations beginning with reminding us of the observations of Alexis deTocqueville, a French historian and political philosopher, who visited America in the 1830’s, and commented on the abundance of civic organizations who were contributing to the vibrancy of America, and the unique nature of our charitable giving, in his book Democracy in America. In his book, Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community, Robert Putnam wrote that social bonds are the most powerful predictor of life satisfaction. Putnam coined the term “social capital” and used it to describe the signs of connectedness in our communities—voting rates, signing petitions, belonging to organizations that meet, knowing our neighbors, family dinners, and giving to charity. “Putnam observed,” Laura said, “a well-connected individual in a poorly connected community is not as productive as a well-connected individual in a well-connected community.” She also shared that Putnam wrote that joining one group cuts the odds of dying in the next year by a half; two groups by another quarter. And, in a prescient comment, Putnam wrote that the task of sparking greater intergenerational engagement “would be eased by a palpable national crisis.” A year after he wrote that came the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center.
 
Laura also shared the observations of Sebastian Junger, in his book, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging, where he writes on the social divisions in our society, and how groups, tribes, respond differently to problems. He observed that catastrophic events in communities strengthen the social bonds as well and thrust people into a more ancient, organic way of relating with each other. Junger cited a study that found post-9/11, rates of violent crime, suicide, and psychiatric disturbances dropped immediately. “The earliest and most basic definition of community—of tribe—would be the group of people that you would both help feed and help defend,” he wrote. “A society that doesn’t offer its members the chance to act selflessly in these ways isn’t a society in any tribal sense of the word.” Laura then pointed to observations of Yuval Levin, in his book, The Fractured Republic – Renewing America’s Social Contract in the Age of Individualism, in which he wrote that both the left and the right are nostalgic for the past, and assume that if everything goes their way, they could have what they value, but not what they deplore. In reality, the complexities of life bring the good with the bad. The rise of individualism, Levin writes, combined with over centralization creates a perilous mix for society that is eased with our institutions and relationships. “This means,” said Laura, “creating concentric circles starting with loving family, interpersonal relationships in neighborhoods, schools, work places, civic associations, and broader social, political, and professional affiliations. Our national identity is protected by government.”
 
Pulling all of these observations together, Laura said that Portland Rotary is very important. “We don’t want or need a calamity to bring us together for common good. The ties that bind us are important. Welcoming. Sit next to a different person each week.” Finally, she said that service work is what gives us our why.
 
Laura commented that she was feeling like it was Christmas, as excited as she was about the coming year. She said that her worries included not being able to maintain 100 percent attendance during her year, as did Past President Bowen, but she welcomed the challenge. She shared the observations of Past President Bill Blount, who wrote her: “you are about to embark on a fast paced and very rewarding year as Rotary President. You will be amazed at the love reflected back at you as you preside at the podium.”
 
“I’m not feeling the love yet,” she joked. “But I know I will.”