Walter L. Zancan Jr. '15
I’d heard of Hamilton Rotary all my life, from participating in Rotary-sponsored contests/speeches in school to my dad and many of his friends being initiated as a Rotarian. I viewed the club throughout my younger years as one of the most prominent and revered of all service clubs in the area. If you were someone successful and wanted to make a positive impact on our community, you were going to join Hamilton Rotary. Everyone I spoke with had a positive view of the club and didn’t hesitate to explain the impact Rotary had on them or those close to them.
As I began my career in the Hamilton area, the community I’m most proud to call home, my mentor Joe Belew told me that I needed to join Hamilton Rotary. He said that any person who wants to see and make a change in this community needs to join. Joe said that it would help my career as well, I’d be seeing the movers and shakers of this city on a weekly basis, and I’d stay up with any business news and/or changes as they happened. He was 100% correct. Each and every Rotarian welcomed me and made me feel proud and lucky to be a part of such a wonderful organization.
Fast forward 11 years and I’m now the President of Hamilton Rotary Club, the bastion for service I’ve held in such high regards my entire life. I’ve received more from Rotary and its Rotarians than I will ever be able to give back, but I have many years to try. From the Hamilton Science Fair and Rotary Presents to Rotary Park and the Dictionary Project, not to leave out Civics Day, Hamilton Rotary is ingrained in this community, and it will forever be ingrained in my life.