In the March issue of the Rotary District Newsletter, they featured Joseph Beaulieu as well as a few of the District 5020 Rotary Foundation Champions Rotarians.

You have all been identified as Rotary Foundation Champions.

In other words, you are the few Rotarians in District 5020 who have already donated enough to be Major Donors, you have made an ongoing commitment to donate $1,000 per year to the Rotary Foundation and you have made a commitment to leave at least $10,000 to the Rotary Foundation Endowment

Joseph Beaulieu’s statement:

I joined Lacey Rotary in February of 1981. At that time I wasn't into giving to The Rotary Foundation. I was more interested in giving to local causes. I didn't understand what being a true Rotarian meant in those days. In 1985 Rotary International started Polio Plus. We had a Rotarian in our Lacey Rotary Club who had been stricken with Polio as a child. We meet at the Red Bull Restuarant for our regular Rotary meeting. It was before ADA took effect and we were meeting on the second floor before they required elevators. One of the past presidents, Chan Sooge made a wooden carrier seat so we could have the Rotarian stricken by Polio taken up to the meeting room. My childhood neighbor was stricken by Polio as a child. I was reminded of the struggles he went through as he dealt with his Polio. I remember as a child we were required to take naps so we wouldn't get Polio. So when Polio Plus started in 1985 I became a regular contributor to The Rotary Foundation because of those 2 people struggles. That was when I became a true Rotarian.

Since then I wanted to start contributing not only by dollar amounts but by boots on the ground. I haven't been to countries to eradicate Polio yet but I have been to countries to help with Water Purification and Sanitation and Health Education, I serve on a committee with 12 other Rotary Clubs that combine efforts for Water and Sanitation projects in 3rd world countries. It gives me satisfaction that I am doing what little I can to make the world a better place!