More than 60 people gathered at the Cross Creek Country Club Tuesday to hear Mike Conrad, the district governor for Rotary District 7690, offer encouraging words about maintaining the principles of the Rotary Club and its mission to serve others.

“Every club is different, but has the same common purpose — service over self,” Conrad told the audience yesterday.

Conrad said he wanted to encourage the Mount Airy Rotary Club to increase its membership and get more people involved with volunteering and making a difference in the community.

“My role is to support and facilitate your efforts,” Conrad said. “In this club, I want to make a major emphasis on membership this year.”

Conrad said when he was asked to join Gate City Rotary Club, he was sponsored by Sam’s Club. He said Sam Hummel of the Crescent Rotary Club introduced him, and the Rotary gave him an opportunity to put service over himself.

“But bringing in members isn’t enough, it is about nurturing their involvement,” he said. “Retention is just as important as recruitment.”

Another key point, Conrad expressed was supporting the Rotary’s efforts to eradicate Polio in third-world countries. There is a Rotary action group called Polio Survivors and Associates, which is part of the Rotary Polio-Plus polio eradication program. This action group operates in accordance with Rotary International policy, but is not controlled by Rotary.

“The polio eradication is a major project,” he said.

Conrad said it was still going to work hard on a promise “to rid the world of polio.”

“There is a gap between those who have and those who don’t that grows wider. As responsible people, we can do so much more,” he said. “I want you to make a simple ask of others to change a person’s life (by joining Rotary) as it has changed mine.”

During the special luncheon, the Rotary also provided Mount Airy City Schools with $650 as part of its “Compassion,” which is intended to help area school children who are in need.

“I appreciate the partnership with Rotary to help children,” Dr. Darrin Hartness, the superintendent of Mount Airy City Schools, said. “Teachers and principals have identified children who have special needs such as needing shoes, socks or underwear. I’m really thankful for their support.”

Lydia Lovell, the principal at B.H. Tharrington Primary School, said the Compassion Fund helps the schools to give an extra helping hand to families in need.

“It frees us to serve children in a different capacity,” she said.

Chad Beasley, the principal at J.J. Jones Intermediate School, agreed.

“It gives us an opportunity to help with children. For example, we had a child last year whose family’s house burnt down. Some people don’t understand or know the needs. (The Compassion Fund) gives back comfort to the families,” he said.