What do you get when you give to The Rotary Foundation?
Ann Syrett, middle, with Past District Governor Ron Lucas, who served as her counselor during her scholarship year, and David Riley, president of the Rotary Club of Newcastle-under-Lyme
By Ann Syrett, former Ambassadorial Scholar
and member of the Rotary Club Sunrise of Road
Town, British Virgin Islands
In April, I paid an emotional visit to the Rotary
Club of Newcastle-under-Lyme that had hosted
my Ambassadorial Scholarship more than 40
years ago while I attended Keele University in
North Staffordshire, England.
As I shared my experiences with them, I reflect-
ed upon how much the experience had changed
my life. I grew up in Astoria, Oregon, and the
cultural differences between small town USA and
Keele University were immense. I was delighted
by the warmth of my welcome and at the opport-
unity to speak to 35 Rotary clubs, Round Table
clubs (an association of young business profession-
als founded by a British Rotarian in the 1920s),
and similar organizations during my year. It gave
me the confidence to pursue a career as a diplomat.
After my scholarship year, I graduated from the
University of Birmingham with a Master’s degree
in West African history and economics. I signed
up with the U.S. Foreign Service and spent the
next 30 years traveling the world, representing
my country in Rwanda, Great Britain, Haiti,
France, Antigua, and Egypt. I also had several
assignments at the U.S. State Department in
Washington D.C., before retiring to the British
Virgin Islands with my husband, Tony, a former
Lt. Commander in the British Royal Navy. I am
now heavily involved in the Rotary Club Sunrise
of Road Town, British Virgin Islands.
Every dime, every cent, every dollar, every
pound we give to The Rotary Foundation is
put to good use.
As Rotary members, we are regularly asked to
give to The Rotary Foundation. This may seem
like a very big picture operation. However, that
big picture is actually made up of thousands
and thousands of individual pixels, represent-
ing the individual projects, scholarships, grants,
etc., that the Foundation supports.
I was one of those pixels. My life was changed
and directed by my year as an Ambassadorial
Scholar. Going from small town American girl to
worldly-wise Scholar to American diplomat with
a 30 year career AND a wonderful English hus-
band were all results of the journey Rotary set
me upon. I can personally tell you that every
dime, every cent, every dollar, every pound we
give to the Foundation is put to good use.
The impact of those donations, given so long
ago, are still felt strongly in my life. Your con-
tributions to the Foundation resonate around
the world, year in and year out. In my case,
43 years out!
Please note that our website address
has been updated to:
www.northjacksonrotary.org
