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As a father, bragging about my kids comes naturally. As a businessman, we all know that I enjoy talking about carpet and supporting “The Carpet Capital of the World,” and as a Rotarian, I like spending my time giving back to our community.
It is something I have discussed before, but my decision to join Rotary 11 years ago is directly related to my family’s move to the United States. We emigrated from Germany and, because of the move, we were able to realize the American dream. I spent many years looking for ways to pay back, and in the end, Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” articulated what I was looking for.
I’d like to share with you what Carpet City Rotary is all about.
Every Monday, the Carpet City Rotary meets in downtown Dalton at The Little Dipper restaurant. We have approximately 19 members, representing at least 15 different occupations: insurance agent, lawyer, certified public accountant, real estate, investments, consulting, the Carpet and Rug Institute, health care, employee training, bankers, child care and a few from carpet manufacturers.
I’m proud to say that 80 percent of our funds go towards Special Olympics events in Whitfield County. We put on a summer track and field event, bowling event and a basketball skills competition. We will also be the event sponsor for the upcoming golf event at the state Special Olympics that are coming to Dalton in October.
The local Special Olympics events we support average 250 to 275 kids and the state games will have 1,500 kids. In the past, we have also sponsored the local kids for an equestrian competition and skiing trip, and we bought uniforms for their swim team. In addition to funds, we provide 10 to 15 club members as volunteers and 20 other volunteers that our members provide from their employers.
Every school year, we give six $500 scholarships to Dalton State College (DSC) and two for each high school in the area. The Carpet Capital Rotary also sponsors an exchange student from the Georgia Rotary Student Program and provides a one-year scholarship to DSC. Last year our exchange student was from Sweden, this year she is from Germany.
Every Christmas we do a toy drive for Providence Ministries and average more than 100 new toys for needy children each year. This May will be our seventh anniversary for our annual fundraiser called “Swing for the Green,” a hole-in-one competition for $1 million. And most recently, we have partnered with the city of Dalton to create a new park across from Harmon Field. We’re in the process of getting signs up, as it will be called Carpet City Rotary Park.
But one thing I’d like to brag about even more is what I have learned: Dalton is a town full of some of the most caring and generous people I have ever met. These are ordinary people, just like you, who are dedicated to making Dalton a better place. They’re people who are dedicated to impacting lives for the better.
So my challenge for you today is to decide what you like to brag about in your lives: your families, your jobs, your favorite sports teams. But if you find yourself bragging about “giving back” and taking the time out of your busy day to help others, then don’t be surprised if the Rotary comes knocking on your door, as we are currently looking for fresh faces to join us.
Because even though membership to the Rotary is by invitation only, we notice excellence when we see it, and today could be the day you brag about being asked to become a Rotarian.
Werner Braun is president of the Dalton-based Carpet and Rug Institute.
