Ashli Sasano
Growing up my mom’s constant piece of advice was “Be a Leader, Not a Follower”. While it was her way of saying “don’t give in to peer pressure”, it resonated these last few months preparing for my year as the President of East Honolulu. Leadership was never a role I imagined for myself in Rotary; I was happy to follow the crowd and be a cog in the wheel. So what changed my mind? What made me accept the challenge and step up to not just spin the wheel, but to drive the machine? It was the great leaders that have come before me.
My Rotary story is different from most. I didn’t have a friend that invited me to a Rotary meeting or a family member that was a Rotarian. I found Rotary on my own and was accepted as one of your own. At my first meeting I was welcomed by name and invited to the next service project. Over the years I’ve been asked to serve on the board and have been able to learn from the best leaders Rotary has to offer. So this year, while I’ve always tried to live by my mom’s advice, I’m changing it up a bit by FOLLOWING OTHERS AND BEING A LEADER.
In turn, I challenge everyone out there to do the same. Past President, Wendy Chang, talked about “The Beauty of Discomfort” in her message last year and challenged us to get out of our comfort zone. Leadership can often be uncomfortable, but in discomfort we grow; we learn what we are capable of and while we may fall at times, we can soar to heights we never thought possible. Come soar with me this year as Rotary Connects the World.
Ashli Sasano, President 2019-2020
