Page 6 - 2024年9月號

Urchick’s
grandmother’s
house in
Slovakia.

The meaning of family
he Magic of Rotary is belonging, and it’s about my grandmother. We watched the video to-
a feeling that can appear when you least gether in the community center.
expect it. When the video ended, I turned around and saw
Earlier this year, I was in Slovakia serv- a man standing in the back of the room. I quickly
T
ing as a president’s representative during a six-week learned that this stranger, Frantisek Zilka, was my
trip through Europe. When I wrote to Katarina second cousin. His grandmother and mine had been
Cechova, governor of District 2240 at the time, I men- sisters. I felt like I had been struck by lightning.
tioned that my grandmother Veronica Zilka grew up I visited my newfound cousin’s home, which hap-
in a small village in the area before settling in the U.S. pens to be the home where my grandmother was
It wasn’t long before Cechova tracked down my born. There, he shared old photographs I had never
grandmother’s village, Jakubova Vol’a. She even orga- seen of my dad, my uncle, and my grandmother.
nized a visit for me, where I received an unforgettable Since then, I can’t stop thinking about my family
Slovakian welcome. of Rotary. When I refer to you as my family, I’m not
When I entered the community center of Jakubova just being kind. I really think of everyone in Rotary
Vol’a, a small crowd of people dressed in traditional as my family. But I never would have imagined that
Slovakian clothing greeted me. They sang with my Rotary family would introduce me to long-lost
beautiful and powerful Central European voices that personal family.
reminded me of my grandmother. Sitting in that community center listening to tradi-
A lot of families play cards or games when they get tional Slovakian music from my childhood fi lled me
together. When I was young, my father would pick up with joy and a profound sense of belonging. I am so
his accordion and lead my family in song. My grand- grateful to District Governor Cechova and everyone
mother would sing along with her impressive voice. who helped create that magical experience.
When I walked into the community center and As members of Rotary, we have a unique oppor-
heard traditional music from my childhood — when tunity to share the same magic with each other and
I saw a woman play the accordion the way my dad with the world. I encourage you to consider how you
played — I suddenly felt like a little girl sitting at my can help spread that magic and ensure other mem-
grandmother’s house in Monessen, Pennsylvania. I bers of your club — other members of our Rotary
burst into tears of joy at the memories. family — feel like they truly belong.
But the magic didn’t stop there. District Governor
Cechova really outdid herself. A local genealogist STEPHANIE A. URCHICK
worked with a videographer to make a short fi lm President, Rotary International
Photograph by Lucy Hewett
4 ᇃᢊ׭ᎈȁ2024.9