A Question for All of Us, Inspired by a Very Rotary Irony
By: PDG Bob MacKenzie, Kennebunk RC
At a recent Kennebunk Rotary meeting, we witnessed one of those delightful moments that remind us how much fun Rotary can be. As Past President Tom Bradbury prepared to welcome our club’s newest president, he stepped forward with a plaque honoring the history of Betsy Ross—fitting in this 250th birthday year.Then came the twist. With a grin and a flourish, Tom introduced Kennebunk’s incoming president: Betsy Ross—our own Rotarian and owner of Kennebunk’s Wine House on Main.
The room erupted. None of us had connected the dots until that instant. And yes, Tom confirmed it: according to a quick AI search, she is the only Rotary president in the United States who shares a name with the legendary maker of America’s first flag.
That little spark of irony got me thinking. If Betsy Ross can walk into a Rotary meeting and suddenly become part of a 250‑year‑old story, what about the rest of us?
So, here’s my question to the entire District:
Which Rotarians among us share a name—or a near‑name—with someone famous, infamous, historical, literary, or delightfully unexpected?
Maybe you (or one of your fellow Club Members) share a name with a Supreme Court Justice, a jazz musician, a cartoon character, a Nobel laureate, a baseball legend, or a character from a classic novel. Maybe your name appears in a history book, a movie credit, or a footnote in some obscure but entertaining corner of American lore.
I invite you to send them in—your coincidences, your name‑twins, your accidental brush with fame. Let’s celebrate the quirks, the connections, and the stories that make Rotary not just a service organization, but a community full of surprises. If this is a fellow Rotarian's name, make sure you get their permission. Send to news@rotary7780.org and we'll plan to publish your submissions next month!
And in the meantime, congratulations to Kennebunk Rotary’s next president, Betsy Ross—a name worth remembering, and an irony worth celebrating.