Woodbridge Rotary – “It will give you back more than you will ever give”

For those not involved with a Rotary group, they may not understand the group’s mission or why they should be involved.

But for members of groups like the Woodbridge Rotary, there are no shortage of reasons to join.

“It’s a service above self organization that will give you back more than you will ever give, just because it’s so rewarding. And you’ll meet people in the community that you would have never met, and also some familiar faces. It’s a great way to give back and have fun at the same time,” said Jo-Ellen Benson, who has been a member of the Woodbridge Rotary since 2006.

Benson joined as a way to give back to her community, after hearing about it from a friend.

“I was in banking and looking for ways to give back to the community, and I was involved in the Boy Scouts at the time…I was with a friend at lunch and he said ‘You’ll really like it, it’s a great group of people and they do wonderful things in the community,” Benson commented.

Throughout the year, the Woodbridge Rotary Club interacts and works with several area organizations – whether it’s through fundraisers, events, or scholarships. And while they make sure to work with a variety of groups, members definitely have their favorites.

“We work with Project Mend-A-House, which I’m passionate about. My husband’s business is caring for seniors in the community – so it ties in really well with my business and our mission [at the Rotary],” said Benson.

For some, their longtime involvement with organizations and their Rotary work collide.

“I’ve been involved with the Boys & Girls Club for 30-years. Over the years, the Rotary club has annually made financial contributions. They’ve sponsored a children’s party over at Westminster,” said John Walvius, a member of the club since 1998.

While everyone in the Woodbridge Rotary Club has their own reasons for joining, for the members, it all goes back to their message of community service.

“You go back to the fact that it is a service organization and it’s an opportunity for people to be involved and provide financial assistance for various groups. And several people have gone beyond that to help out,” said Walvius.

An upcoming event the group is hosting is the 11^th annual Joe Devaney Memorial Golf Tournament. It’s being held on June 19 at the Old Hickory Golf Club.

According to Benson, the group is still looking for sponsors, participants and donors for door prizes.

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