President thoughts for September
“To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose”, a quote that applies to seasons of the year and seasons of life. As I write this on Labor Day weekend, this weekend seems to be the most definitive season of the year. That clean break between summer and fall, vacations and school, camping and school sports, hiking and hunting. It is the time when we know we will have shorter and cooler days, the garden is about done, it is a mental shift. We are now headed into fall, a season I love, crisp mornings and warm afternoons, a season that just smells different.
Now of course the date that starts summer is Memorial Day. So just how did the last Monday in May and the first Monday of September get chosen?
According to google: Memorial Day began as Decoration Day in 1868, with May 30th chosen by General John A. Logan because flowers would be in bloom across the country. The date was originally selected for decorating Civil War soldiers' graves but was changed by Congress in 1968 to the last Monday in May, taking effect in 1971, to create a three-day weekend and honor all fallen U.S. service members. While The date for Labor Day was chosen for a practical reason: the first Monday in September was a date that fell between the July 4th and Thanksgiving holidays, providing a much-needed mid-year break with good weather for the proposed parades and picnics that honored the labor movement. The first celebration was on September 5, 1882, in New York City, a date chosen by the Central Labor Union, which later changed it to the first Monday in September.
With that bit of trivia, thanks to Elaine for a timely bulletin to let us know what is happening in our club. September is education month so support our students and thank a teacher if you get a chance. Also, always we are working to get great speakers each week, attendance has been good through the summer and should just improve. Finally, we are still emphasizing membership recruitment this year.
As we "Unite For Good", I am looking forward to a great year.
In Fellowship,
Stephen Boorman, President
Rotary Club of Idaho Falls