Hello, my name is Carl Veus, and I am a Rotern at the Rotary Club of Naples Bay. Well, what is a Rotern you might ask? A Rotern is a young adult who has started their own business and has been awarded an internship at a Rotary club in their community to receive mentoring in their business in exchange for helping the Rotary club carry out projects that help children and do fundraising to pay for those projects.
I joined the Rotarianship program in February of 2021. Since then, I have made new friends and learned new skills that will last me forever. Please allow me to share with you a few of the things that I have done and experienced as a Rotern:
The first thing I did was meet my mentor, Sandra Simmons. Throughout the entire program, Sandra took me under her wing and introduced me to many individuals in her circle of business owner contacts that have positively impacted my life.
The second thing I did as a Rotern is co-host a breakout room at the Rotary District 6960 Conference – FLAMINGO FIESTA. That was a one-of-a-kind experience; I got to share my thoughts and what I have learned being among the first two Roterns in the Rotarianship Program to many of the members and presidents of different clubs in SW Florida from Sarasota to Marco Island.
Lastly, I learned about Rotary’s history, legacy, and ongoing purpose, which is to be of service to others in their local community and I made that true connection with the organization at the Night of 1,000 Paul Harris Fellows. At this event, I learned more about Rotary and our international missions and accomplishments throughout the many years since it was founded.
I learned that Rotary does not just make a positive impact on our communities, but it makes a positive impact worldwide through the thousands of clubs around the world. Being part of something so big and impactful makes me more thankful for the opportunity of being part of the Rotary Club of Naples Bay.