By Roger Tausig
Rotary Club of Orange
Roger Tausig
As I have written in this column over the years, Rotary Club of Orange – and Rotary International as a whole – takes great pride in providing services to those in need locally, regionally and globally. We do this because we are people who recognize that we are blessed with health, financial security and the ability to readily access the things that we need and want in our lives. At the same time, however, we are also aware that there are people who are challenged in various ways, through no fault of their own, and are not similarly blessed.
To deliver on our mission of “Service Above Self,” we seek out organizations with which we can partner to provide assistance in several forms. One such form is financial aid to support charitable organizations that rely on philanthropic sources to fund their efforts to provide service to communities in need. The second form that our efforts involve is to provide hands-on assistance by rolling up our sleeves and working at events that these organizations hold.
One such organization with which our club has partnered is Marrakech of New Haven. Founded in 1971, Marrakech provides a broad array of programming for children and adults with and without disabilities throughout Connecticut. They assist individuals who face barriers in securing employment, connecting to necessary supportive systems, accessing housing and participating fully as contributing members of the community. The individuals we serve are encouraged to strive for long-term goals such as higher levels of self-sufficiency and greater acceptance by the communities in which they live.
Over the years, our club has participated in several service projects in support of Marrakech clients, a number of whom live with significant physical and intellectual challenges. This past December, members of our club worked at Marrakech’s annual holiday party, held at Holy Infant Church in Orange. Marrakech needed outside help to serve food and provide other assistance to hundreds of attendees and asked our club if we could help.
Rotarians Sharon Ewen and Elizabeth Burns organized a group of our members to step in and provide the needed assistance. I, along with eight other Orange Rotarians, served food from a buffet and got to personally interact with the client population – a most moving experience.
In addition to the opportunity to reflect on my comparatively good fortune, I was struck by the incredible work that Marrakech does for people with a wide variety of profound physical and intellectual challenges. Seeing these people firsthand gave me an appreciation for the fact that a place like Marrakech exists and cares for people in need, in many cases for years and years.
As a result of our volunteer efforts that night, Marrakech selected our club to receive the Suzanne N. Jovin Volunteer of the Year award at Marrakech’s 33rd annual Founders’ Award Ceremony. Marrakech’s Founders’ Award Ceremony recognizes people and groups that exemplify the principles and philosophy of those who founded Marrakech over 52 years ago. Those qualities include commitment, dedication, a “can-do” attitude and involvement in projects aimed at creating positive change in the community.
We are honored and extremely proud to have been selected to receive this award, as it validates the fact that we are executing on our mission by serving others in accordance with our mission to provide “Service above Self.”
Roger Tausig is a member of the Rotary Club of Orange.