As I step into this new role, I reflect on the comments I gave for my induction.

Far too often our society today fails to adequately value excellence. There are four people that I find inspirational because they uniquely exhibit excellence. Willie Nelson who exemplifies consistency, longevity, and endurance. Danny MacAskill, an individual who has practiced and perfected art of trials bicyclist. Jimmy Chin, outstanding climber, photographer and videographer. Jordan Burroughs, one of the best US wrestlers of all time who didn’t do anything special, just did the basics especially well. For me these inspirational figures show how endurance, practice, skill, humility, and a focus on the basics produce excellence.

I also had to reflect on the untimely passing of our own Bruce Turner who exemplified all these great characteristics. Bruce took care of the basics, as Secretary Bruce managed a massive amount of the administrative work for our club. He did it quietly, with humility, with diligence, and with precision. He was the person that I wanted to do the final review of the budget, when in doubt I turned to his board meeting minutes, history, Bruce had that also. Life is a journey, not a destination, a journey in which Bruce continuously pursued excellence to the end.

I also talked about privilege. One of the graduation speeches I remember was the West Point Commandant of Cadets, whose message to the cadets was that “they were privileged, they had one of the finest educations from one of the most elite schools in the world, but they were not special". And because they were privileged and were not special, they had a greater responsibility to go out and contribute, to provide value, and to make a difference in the world.

While in today’s world privilege is an overused and misused concept, the concept of being blessed and having privilege is foundational to the purpose of any service club. Privilege comes from many sources; a good family, job, education, a drive for excellence, great mentors, opportunities, and the list goes on.

Again, Bruce was a model of this principle with his contributions and work for our Rotary Club and his church. Bruce put Rotary’s motto "Service Above Self" into practice. He gave hours, money and energy to causes greater than Himself, he lived the spirit of Rotary.

As we start a new Rotary year, remember excellence is not an achievement, it is a lifestyle, a lifestyle that often results in opportunity and privilege. Privilege that results in a Rotary membership and an opportunity to help others. And let’s look to help others, and particularly for any opportunity to help others in their journey towards excellence.

Bruce has given us an example and set a standard of excellence for all of us.

In Fellowship,

Stephen Boorman

President

Rotary Club of Idaho Falls