‘Service above self’: Rotary Club of Estero turns 25

By D. K. Christi

 

This month, the Rotary Club of Estero turns 25. This quarter-century milestone is measured not only in time but in lives touched, friendships formed, businesses grown and a community steadily strengthened through service.

Of the original charter members, only two remain: Joe Pavich Sr. and Gary Israel, the club’s current president and publisher of Estero Life Magazine. Their perspective spans the club’s entire history from its earliest meetings to its evolving role in a growing Village of Estero.

“Most people have no idea of the many things the club has supported for years before our Village of Estero incorporation, and that continues today,” said Israel.

Pavich has lived in Estero for over 36 years and has seven grandchildren who were born here. His son, Jason, joined a local Rotary club, making it two generations in the Pavich family. Another Estero club member is a third-generation Rotarian.

That continuity reflects something deeper about Rotary itself. “One person cannot do alone what many can accomplish together,” Pavich said.

“When I joined Rotary 25 years ago, I wanted to contribute to my community in a meaningful way,” he said. “As a Rotarian, the entire membership works toward the same goals.”

Both Israel and Pavich were encouraged by their colleagues and Rotary leaders to not only join Rotary but to also charter a new club for Estero.

Rotarians build lasting friendships, develop leadership skills, gain professional colleagues and find a shared sense of purpose that extends far beyond weekly meetings. Rotary reaches over 200 countries and geographical locations with more than 46,000 clubs worldwide.

“Rotary members follow the ‘Four-Way Test’ in all they say, think or do,” Israel said, reciting the organization’s guiding principles: truth, fairness, goodwill and benefit to all.

Those values have shaped decisions both large and small, from local service projects to global initiatives. Rotarians apply them in their own business transactions.

 

Global to Local: Service Impacts Lives

Among service projects is Rotary’s decades-long effort to eradicate polio, a vaccination campaign that has protected millions of children worldwide. Closer to home, the impact is often more personal.

“The Gift of Life program,” Pavich said, “is an example of working together to accomplish the impossible.” He recalled a 9-year-old girl from Venezuela who came to Southwest Florida for life-saving heart surgery. Local Rotarians provided housing and covered medical visits, while others across the Rotary network coordinated travel and surgical care. Today, she is an adult with a family of her own.

Youth programs also remain a cornerstone. RotaKids, Interact and Rotaract clubs introduce younger generations to service; hands-on projects include the RotaKids of Three Oaks Elementary packing thousands of pounds of beans and rice for Interfaith Charities each year, demonstrating the immediate impact of collective effort.

“I didn’t know helping others could be great fun,” Israel heard one student volunteer say.

Moments like that are where Rotary’s spirit comes alive.

It also appears in unexpected places. Israel recalls crossing a Manhattan street when a stranger spotted his Rotary pin and hurried over to chat. He was no longer a stranger but a fellow Rotarian.

That instant connection reflects Rotary’s global reach. In Estero, however, the focus remains local and personal. Fundraisers, from the annual golf tournament

this month to 5K runs, blend community engagement with purpose. Student scholarships and charitable organizations are among beneficiaries of these events.

International efforts continue to address needs such as clean water and mobility support. One such effort delivered hundreds of wheelchairs to Belize as part of a district conference cruise which included members from 56 clubs in eight counties. Pavich remembers a father placing his son, who had no legs, into his new wheelchair for the first time. “What will I do with my arms?” the man asked. “I have carried my child since his birth.”

Over the years, the club has also been shaped by “snowtarians,” seasonal members who bring experiences from other communities, adding depth and perspective. At the same time, attracting younger professionals remains an ongoing challenge in a changing world of work and connection.

Even so, the fundamentals endure. Face-to-face meetings, shared meals and a commitment to service continue to anchor the organization.

As president, Israel is looking ahead, exploring ways to integrate technology and social media that may appeal to new members, while preserving Rotary’s defining human connection.

The Rotary Club of Estero remains focused on what has sustained it for 25 years: service above self, ethical leadership and a belief that meaningful change begins when people come together.

For information about the Rotary Club of Estero, contact Gary Israel at 239-287-4246.