As I sit down to write my blog for November, I think about gratitude and how much I appreciate the work that you do as Sertomans and how those things you do affect the lives of so many. It’s more than just your dues that make you valuable to our wonderful organization. When you support our activities through your presence and willingness to lend a hand, that makes a difference. Whether you’re asked to help or not, many of you are there – ready and able to do whatever needs to be done. I quite honestly know I’m not speaking to everyone, and if you don’t think this is about you, ask yourself “why not?” “What can I do to be a more active and participatory member of the Richland Sertoma Club?” The answer is simple – start by coming to lunchtime meetings, promptly pay your dues when billed, actively serving on the committee for which you belong and the rest will come easily. Each of us are like members of a long and distinguished chain, but truly, we’re only as strong as the weakest link. Your membership and support is absolutely vital to our organization and you are needed to perform the service in our community that so vitally needs to be done. It’s a new month, and almost a new year…won’t you make a commitment to do this right now?

 

Speaking of gratitude – I do not want to go one sentence further without thanking each and every person who worked long and hard to make our annual golf tournament the success it was! It was truly an awesome event and each of you did an indescribably wonderful job. Not only was the weather perfect, everything else connected with this important fundraiser was, too!

 

If you’re like most of us, you have a number of demands placed on your time. On any given day, more than one person is asking (and sometimes even pulling on you) for something – clearly I understand that. This isn’t one more thing, when it comes to community service, this is our thing – we’re members of Sertoma and service is what we’re all about. If you’ve missed more than one lunch meeting, please come back soon; we miss you. If you haven’t attended a meeting of your committee, please come to the next one; we need you. If you don’t remember on which committee you serve, please contact me.

Between now and the end of 2008, here’s what’s coming up at our lunch meetings:

 

Lunch meeting: Thursday, November 6^th at 11:45am in the Summit Club: Colonel Kevin Shwedo, Deputy Commander - United States Army Training Center, Fort Jackson will update us on what’s happening at the Fort these days – and at the perfect time, too - just before Veteran's Day!

 

Lunch meeting: Thursday, November 20^th at 11:45am in the Summit Club: One of our newest members, Dr. Rich Harrill, will be telling us about tourism as an international economic development tool with some comments on the China tourism factor. 

 

Lunch meeting: Thursday, December 4^th at 11:45am in the Summit Club: Former Richland Sertoma Club President and celebrated Carolina Historian, Dr. Alexia Helsley, will share excepts from her new book, The History of Columbia.

 

Lunch meeting: Thursday, December 18^th at 11:45am in the Summit Club: Be sure to bring your kids and grands to see Santa when he comes to visit the Richland Sertoma Club!

 

In this month of thanksgiving, I wish to close my blog this month with the immortal words of lyricist John Bucchino. For those of you who aren’t familiar with his work, I find one of his pieces particularly poignant this time of year; it’s called “Grateful.” Please read it and see if you agree:

 

I've got a roof over my head
I've got a warm place to sleep
Some nights I lie awake counting gifts
Instead of counting sheep

I've got a heart that can hold love
I've got a mind that can think
There may be times when I lose the light
And let my spirits sink
But I can't stay depressed
When I remember how I'm blessed

 

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

 

In a city of strangers
I got a family of friends
No matter what rocks and brambles fill the way
I know that they will stay until the end

I feel a hand holding my hand
It's not a hand you can see
But on the road to the promised land
This hand will shepherd me
Through delight and despair
Holding tight and always there

 

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

 

It's not that I don't want a lot
Or hope for more, or dream of more
But giving thanks for what I've got
Makes me happier than keeping score

In a world that can bring pain
I will still take each chance
For I believe that whatever the terrain
Our feet can learn to dance
Whatever stone life may sling
We can moan or we can sing

 

Grateful, grateful
Truly grateful I am
Grateful, grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful

 

Truly blessed
And duly grateful.

 

Have a wonderful November and a very Happy Thanksgiving. I’m grateful for each and everyone of you and hope to see you soon.

 

In SERvice TO MAnkind,

Steven Langer