SPRINGFIELD – Charity, it is said, begins at home.
It’s a common phrase, and one that often is misinterpreted. In fact, a British clergyman and historian, Thomas Fuller, popularized the proverb in the 17th century, with the full text stating “Charity begins at home, but should not end there.”
Fortunately, we are surrounded by people who live up to the full statement.
Our family, friends, and neighbors are doing important work all the time right here in our communities. Lane County has the highest number of nonprofits per capita in Oregon. And one of The Chronicle’s fundamental purposes is to shine a spotlight on our local volunteers and the work they do.
What might not be as well known is that many of those same people are making a global impact, too.
Imagine the power of kindness extrapolated across the planet: Scaling empathy, sharing individual subject-matter expertise for the greater good, or simply leaning in with another shoulder to the wheel.
We don’t have to imagine any of it, actually. It’s happening all around us, all the time.
International influence
The irrepressible Ralph Christensen is one such person. A geologist by trade, and a Rotarian by choice, he’s a husband, father, grandad.
Oh, and worldwide difference-maker.
“You never start to do this kind of work thinking in those terms,” he says, a big grin on his face. “But it’s amazing to think how just a guy like me can affect so many others’ lives. That’s the greatness of Rotary.”
Ralph first told me about the Twin Rivers Rotary chapter’s work in Togo. It started when Ralph met Dr. Nuhu at UO and started the Togo initiative around 2007. Nearly $250,000 in Rotary grants have funded the efforts since then. You can read about the outcome of their work this week and next in The Chronicle.
A key ingredient in the effort?
“Trust – it’s a repeatable theme,” Christensen said. “The proof was in the pudding. They picked the top performers in their community, and they’ve had men and women on their leadership committees.”
Ron Baker, who has worked on projects in more than 100 countries, is another one of those difference-makers. In the early 1980s he was watching the news on his couch in Roseburg one evening. He saw reports on refugees coming into Thailand and filthy camps filled with hundreds of people.
We won’t try to recap the genocide under Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge in this space, but know that Baker was moved to action. Right away.
“I turned to my wife and said, ‘I’m a public health professional. I should be able to do something about that.’
“And in a matter of weeks I was there; been doing it ever since, all over the world, with a group of people that are very dedicated. We have no paid staff. We raise the funds in different ways.
While Ron ultimately was a guiding light for Ralph and the Twin Rivers crew – which included Ralph’s wife and daughter – he was learning on the fly in those early days.
“I can save lives if I can get there,” he said to himself. It almost cost him his own life.
He once found himself with prisoners standing in an execution line. As the first person in line was executed, one-by-one, Ron eventually was only two people away from the front.
He was pulled away by a village leader who recognized him for his public-health work in the area.
You can find these bright lights, beacons really, all over our area.
Rae LaMarche is the most recent past president of the Springfield Rotary chapter. A busy professional for many years, she’s enjoying retirement – by being as active as ever. She’s got her hands in a bit everything, including helping promote the Mayor’s Revue with Curtis Salgado in November.
Girl next door? Not exactly. More like the kindly woman down the street … who travels the world helping save untold numbers of lives. Consider her travelog the past few years:
• South Africa, 2023: Visited projects as part of Rotary Friendship Exchange, including donation to school to buy one-year internet access; took a suitcase of school supplies in Langa Township.
• Australia, 2023: Visit and donation to School of the Air in Alice Springs.
• Guatemala, 2017: Visited and helped with a stove project as team leader for Rotary Group Study Exchange.
• India, 2020: Helped administer polio vaccinations
What’s next?
• Perú, 2025: She’ll be representing Springfield Rotary in delivery of portable ventilators to children at the National Institute for Children’s Health.
Truly incredible, inspiring work – from our local Rotaries to all over the world.
