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SoWhoCaresAnyway E44 Do With Can Do · SoWhoCaresAnyway

Welcome to So Who Cares Anyway?, a fortnightly podcast exploring stories that shape care, community, and the systems we live in.
I'm Ruth Germaine, and in each episode I'm joined by my guests, people from behind clinical doors to the North York Moors, whose experiences open a window into how we care for one another.
Together, we explore care through creativity, connection, and the strengths we already hold.
Because care isn't small, care isn't soft.
Care shapes the world.
So who cares anyway? It's time to talk about it.
0:41
Hi, it's Ruth here.
And before we get started, um, this conversation is with Tim Mason, who looks at Rotary in a way that you might not expect.
We talk about community power, doing with rather than to, and how small s- human actions can make us all feel more connected.
So if ever you've had assumptions about Rotary, this one, to be honest, might surprise you.
1:05
Good morning, and I just want to say, first of all, welcome to Tim.
Tim's a fellow Rotarian and the, um been a Rotarian for some time.
I'm gonna let Tim tell us a little bit more about it in a moment.
And also, I think, Tim, I just wanted to say that you founded or you're leading, I'm not too sure, the direct membership of, um, Rotary, which is something that we're gonna talk a little bit more about today.
So yeah.
Welcome, Tim.
Nice to have you here.
Thank you.
Yes, I'm, I'm just the leader of direct membership rather than founding it.
Someone It was founded by someone called Chris Garner.
Thank you.
So I wonder if you want to give a bit more, um, background, so we can talk about the founder and, and what Chris's role was in that and why it came about.
But I just wondered if you wanted to give a, if you'd give a bit of a background about you, who you are, and, um, perhaps what led you to that point.
So whether it's your career or being in Rotary for some time.
So how did you get to the point that you're at now? So let me just tell you how I joined Rotary, 'cause that's a story and a half.
So I was, uh, uh, up in Norfolk and we went away on holiday.
Um, and, uh, on our way back, a lorry crashed into the back of us when my wife was driving.
And when we got back to, um, Aylsham, I went to see the solicitor and the garage owners.
So the solicitor and the garage owners, and they're both in something called Rotary, which I've never heard of.
And, uh, they said, "You should join Rotary."
At the time, I was a youth and community, um, person who ran a, a youth club i- in the town.
And I said, "Oh, well, that sounds good."
So they, they got me to join the Aylsham Rotary Club, um, back in, uh, 1981.
And, um, I went along, I got involved.
I was mentored by, uh, one of the older Rotarians who- Taught me all about Rotary.
And, um, I stayed in it while I was there, but as a youth worker, I, I moved around the country, so I had to keep joining Rotary Clubs, and I've been in 13 different Rotary Clubs until we got to, um, Portsmouth and we set up a new club, but we, we kept having to be...
Because it was new, we kept having to be the president, secretary, and treasurer.
And then Chris Garner and Rotary Great Britain and Ireland were setting up direct membership, which had no offices.
You just joined Rotary and did Rotary things.
We thought, "This is a great thing to be part of," so we, we joined direct membership, and I've been in it since, uh, 2021.
I'm just gonna go, get you to go back a little bit, Tim, 'cause you said that you'd been in a car accident and there were two people that you met.
I think it was the, um, solicitor and the person that was repairing the car, if I remember rightly.
But immediately what came into my head was you decide- you thought, "That's good."
You were a community youth worker and it obviously fitted.
But what is it that actually made you think, "Oh, actually I want to join.
That would be useful"? What, why did you actually say yes when they explained that to you? Because I've always liked to connect with people and to see what they do.
So I was quite interested in getting involved in a, an organization that helped you connect with different people.
And being in, in the local community, I wanted to connect with the business people.
So it, so that's what made me think, "Yeah, this is something worth getting involved in."
Thank you.
And, um, obviously you were doing youth work and community work at that time as well.
So I suppose you could see I'm already doing that connection, I'm building those connections, and it would be useful perhaps to that work in some way.
So you've sort of spoken a bit about the direct membership.
Why did that come about, and what's that about? Perhaps you can explain a bit more about Chris and what he- his background was, and why he set that up, and then how you stepped into that leadership role.
Uh, Chris Garner had been a Rotarian for a long time.
They decided to set up some sort of e-club.
So an e-club is something that's run online.
And, um, we were, we were wanting to actually develop something new that could attract new people and give them a chance to explore Rotary before they decided to go into a club or stay as a direct member.
So I, I just got involved with Chris bec- after I'd been district governor for, uh, my area, um, to help get this off the ground and see how we could develop it.
Um, but Chris was a, a Rotarian like myself.
Um, and Rotary Great Britain and Ireland, Amanda Watkin, was wanting to do direct membership as a pilot for Rotary International, so we, we got on and did it.
Okay, so I'm just thinking that we've got listeners out there who may or may not be Rotarians.
So they're probably already thinking, "Well, I don't even understand quite what Rotary is."
So if I was to join a club, or they may have views of what that is, and we spoke earlier on that people might sort of think of Rotary and perhaps think of things like Masons or other things like that that's out there.
And of course, they're all probably, or they all are very different.
So I wonder if you can give an explanation of what Rotary was when people, or what Rotary is for those people that join clubs directly, and then give a little bit more explanation about what Rotary Direct is, and then perhaps we can try to sort of delve into those ambitions of Rotary Direct a little bit more.
Yeah.
The story of Rotary is really exciting.
So it was, uh, set up by someone called Paul Harris in Chicago in 1905, and he was a solicitor who'd moved to Chicago after qualifying and felt lonely.
And so he got some of his colleagues together in different offices each week, and they rotated the meetings, hence the name Rotary.
And by doing that, they also felt, well, we don't want to just do business.
We would be quite interested in helping the community.
So they built the first public toilet in Chicago.
And over the next few years, lots of other people thought this, and we're talking about men, businessmen, lots of other businessmen thought this was a great idea.
And they then set up groups, which they then called clubs, across the world.
And Rotary is now in over 200 countries, and there are 1.4
million members across the world.
And if I'm really honest, the thing that actually keeps me attracted to Rotary is I'm not just joining my own local group here in Britain and Ireland.
I'm actually joining an international movement, which gives you loads of connections, which I love.
So just to give you an example of some of that, it's enabled us to go across the world.
And we've made links with Sweden and Italy and America and Australia.
But back when I was a lad of 14, I went to America and always wanted to go and see Mickey Mouse.
And at the time, I went to Virginia, and there was no Disneyland world in Florida.
It was only in Los Angeles.
And I was told I couldn't go there 'cause it was too far from Virginia.
And so when I went back to, uh, America to a Rotary International Convention in New Orleans, my wife put on Facebook that I'd always wanted to meet Mickey Mouse, and the Rotary Club of Orange County arranged for us to go around, uh, Disneyland free, um, so we c- so I could meet M- Mickey Mouse.
And so that was really fantastic.
A great, great opportunity.
So it, it-- the one thing that Rotary's done for me is give me those international connections, which I actually really relish.
It's given me the local connections, don't get me wrong, and I-- and it helps me to actually do community work.
But it actually is an international organization, so people joining are joining something that is worth joining.
It's not a secret society.
It's, uh, an organization that is readily out there helping its community to, uh, develop different projects.
Um, and it has a, a very, uh, has an excellent charity.
Well, I, I don't think many people realize that Rotary has one of the biggest charities in the world called the Rotary Foundation, and, um, this helps i- in a number of areas, um, with things with poverty, uh, with, uh, water sanitation, with disease, with peace.
And the biggest thing it's helped with is ending polio.
So back in 1980, one person had the idea they'd like to see polio eradicated from the world.
And, and so they got together.
Rotary said, "We will eradicate polio."
And working with partners, just to cut a long story s- short, um, they've got together with the World Health Organization, Bill Gates, and national governments, and they have nearly eradicated polio from the world.
It's now only prevalent in Nigeria and Afghanistan.
And the one good thing about an organization like Rotary, it won't give up until it's actually finished.
And so we're still working to end polio.
Um, but it is with partners.
Uh, but it-- they've done a huge job and put a lot of money into it, and that comes from our foundation, our own charity Thank you, Tim.
And I think that gives a bit more idea as to the ethos behind polio.
Behind polio? Behind Rotary.
Sorry, I was thinking about the polio bit there.
And that wanting to do work for the community.
But you spoke about the beginning, you know, having that first public toilet, um, and how it was founded.
And you spoke then that it was actually at the beginning businessmen, but I think it's really grown from that.
10:57
So maybe that's sort of some of the thi- where people think, "Oh, was that a businessmen sort of group or society or something like that?" But it, it's changed massively.
So when did it change and, um, yeah, how did that happen? It was back in the '80s, one woman decided she wanted to join Rotary in America, and she, um, she went for it.
She joined.
Um, I think she threatened to take them to court if they didn't let her join, but they She did join.
And now Rotary is a, a di- very diverse and, um, inter- inter- engaged community.
And inter-generation, because we, we work with young people right from the primary age up to, uh, whatever age you want to really.
About, about 80, 90 plus.
Um, but it is a It is not just, uh, only businessmen now.
It is about what assets do you bring to an organization that can help in their communities.
And that's what we're trying to do with direct membership, is actually say to people, "Come and join Rotary.
Bring your aspirations and ideals and ideas, and let's turn them into something that can help in this community, in Great Britain and Ireland, and actually in the world."
Thank you.
And I think there's, um I just want to sort of take, give a little bit of an idea there for people, Tim, is that the direct, the direct membership is different in that people just join directly.
So you're not affiliated to a club.
So there are still plenty of clubs out there doing lots of charitable work and doing lots of things.
And you were, um, a member of a club yourself, as you've mentioned, and you changed recently.
But those clubs are still doing all sorts of work, and they often raise money for charity or for the, the Rotary Foundation.
But the difference between that and the Rotary direct membership is actually about how can we bring people on.
So will you talk a little bit more to, or how can we bring people in and work in perhaps a different way? So would you talk a little bit more about the aims of the direct membership and how it works? Because I've been a Rotary direct membership member for about 18 months coming up now, or just over a year.
18 months, something like that.
I'm not too sure.
But I know that sometimes, and I say to you, Tim, when we meet, I, am I really doing Rotary? Am I really a Rotarian? Because Rotary Direct is so different.
So I wonder if you can just give a little bit more idea.
Yeah.
So how would you define Rotary is a, is a quite good idea, isn't it? So to me, Rotary is about bringing people to meet people.
And, um, direct membership is very much about people-centric.
So how can we actually connect people to people to actually engage them in community development? And I'm a, a great follower of Cormac Russell and asset-based community development, and I believe direct membership can work in that way.
It, it's how can we actually see something that needs to be done in our community, get people who are interested in doing something about that in the community, and then doing something about it.
And that doesn't necessarily need to say that you need to belong to a club.
Um, and there are, as, as you say, there are still lots of clubs in our communities doing Rotary, but do you need to meet for lunch or breakfast or evening meal to do that? So direct membership is a way of actually getting involved without having to go to a regular meeting.
And the reason I keep telling you you're doing Rotary already is that whoever, whoever, whatever you do in the community is Rotary, isn't it, because you are helping other people.
And Rotary has always been about peace.
I mentioned peace in last part when I was talking about how it started.
But peace comes with actually working with each other and actually supporting each other and helping to the community to be more cohesive with each other.
And, um, to give you an example of how we...
So I, I, what I love about direct membership is you can set something up that's needed.
So my wife goes to a knitting group.
15:01
She's at it at the moment.
And some of the, some of the members that go to that were talking about their diabetes and the fact that there wasn't much support out there for what they should eat.
As I support my wife as a diabetic as well, I'm not diabetic, but she is, we thought, "Well, let's set up a group that could actually meet once a month and talk about the sorts of things you sh- should eat as a diabetic."
And we now meet once a month in the Community Kettle, which is a, a community hub that we also helped with.
Um, and we talk about the foods they should eat and some of the issues they have with, uh, uh, with diabetes.
And this has now been going for two- Uh, for two years, and we've, we've collected 30 people that have, have attended.
Um, to me, that's Rotary.
So you don't need to have a club to do s- something like that.
And, and we're at just about working now on a, a, a pro- or we worked on a project, uh, to do with a diabetics group that actually had a food festival, which was all about what we should eat to keep ourselves healthy, healthy.
So we've now set up something called Focus on Food for Health.
So we can do that as just individuals, and then grouping them together under, using Cormac Russell's ABCD, asset-based community development, and really develop something that will help the community.
So that's how I see direct membership going.
The, the issue really is how do we actually, uh, get people to be empowered to do those sorts of ideas? And, and people like you, um, uh, Ruth, you're doing that by your podcasts and some of the other things you do.
So that's Rotary.
So what, what's different about that? So why do you need to join a club to do what you're doing already? Um, so that's how I see it.
Thank you, and I think that's really helpful.
And you have said that to me before, you know, that I'm doing Rotary, but I know that people feel that you need to join a club.
But what you've described there is with your wife, she was already going to something, but she had a group of people, and you've set up another group to look at food in this instance.
But I know there's so many things that Rotary does, so this is one, one thing, isn't it? But it's amazing all those one things add up.
But by doing that, actually you now have a group of people.
So rather than spending your time going along to a Rotary Club to have a Rotary meal, you're now reaching out to the wider community, and I think that's what's really important.
And of course, Russell Cormack did do an episode on here about the asset-based community development that you spoke about.
And what I liked about that, and the reason why I asked him on, is it's about not doing things for our community, "So what can I do for you?" But instead, it really takes that approach of you have assets.
In other words, you have skills and knowledge and expertise, and that knowledge might not be about, in your case, the food, but you know where you can buy it from, what it, what it looks like, how to cook it, all of those different things.
So everybody brings different knowledge, um, and it's really important, and that's the assets.
And that you use that to build community.
And that, again, fits with, and I've spoken to you about this before, with the Do With movement that was, um, really started by Adam Lent at the King's Fund, but they're starting to really grow now, about how do we think about how do we do things with people That was particularly around health and care, but actually I think that if we start in the community with doing with people, then actually we can really start to, to build on that so that, um, the community are involved We, we have got to get a community these days to actually start thinking about not being done to by everybody, but how do we do it ourselves? And that's what I love about Cormac Russell.
Uh, he is saying that if we do it with our own assets, with our own, whatever anyone can bring to the, to the table, we can actually really make a difference and build stronger communities.
And whatever, whether it's do with or can do, I believe Rotary, working with others in partnership, can do do with, make our communities much stronger and healthier and, and because the people are doing it themselves.
19:21
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Now, back to the conversation You've given the example of what your wife's doing.
I wonder if you could give another example of, um, of something that's happening through the direct membership that might be local or more international that you can ex- so that people can get a bit of an idea of what you're, what's happening.
Might be something you're doing or somebody else that, that you know that's doing, and what impact that has and the potential change that that can lead to.
So, um, me and my wife are a team, and, um, we've got one or two, uh, direct members who work with us.
And we're at the moment putting together a, a eco fest in the forest.
So we're working with the Forest School of Portsmouth, and we want to run, um, a day on the 11th of July where people can come, families can come and get ideas of different activities they can do in the, in, in, in nature and help with, uh, climate change and things like that.
And then in October, we've always run a, a mental health day working with the, the, uh, Portsmouth Forest School.
Last year, we got about 100 people to it, and it's again doing things in the forest together and, um, using nature to actually make sure our mental health is strong.
Um, in other parts of the country, they're, they're doing quite, um, some really great stuff around fashion.
So we've got someone called Alvis in Birmingham who's working with young people, helping them to develop, um, African clothes and recycle, um, um, materials, again, helping with climate change.
And, uh, he's also got, uh, linked up with someone in London, and they're now doing it in terms of, uh, what they can do for health.
Uh, not health, um, heritage and, and culture change.
So it, it's, it's quite exciting the different things that can be done through direct membership.
Whatever your aspiration, um, or ideas, you can actually, with a, a group of other people, develop something we call a community action team, a CAT.
Um, and some of the ideas now put up is that we work to help the Sickle Cell Society, um, do, do work on that area.
Um, we're, we're setting up a, a, um, enterprise group to help people set up their own businesses.
So there are lots of different things, um, but rather than tell people what the ideas are, it is better to go into the community and find out what's needed, and then the, the, uh, community action team will develop work around what is needed, going back to Kemwer Rastell's asset-based community development.
Thank you, Tim.
And I think it is- You know, that going back into community and finding out what's needed or people joining Rotary that have got a passion 'cause they are a member of the community and they're thinking, "What can I do?" And I really like that bit about fashion, 'cause when you first said it, you know, I think most people are thinking, "Fashion? What's that got to do with anything?" But actually designing clothes and u- reusing materials and thinking about how you can, um, bring that into heritage and culture as well, which is a really important part.
Often we don't draw on our heritage, um, and use that and, um, yeah, I think that goes back to a previous conversation I've had, but I won't go, so I won't go into that too deeply, but there's lots there.
And of course, the mental health days in nature.
Can I just come back and, and I've had another thought as well that might, your, your listeners might be interested in.
So from the diabetic group, which is a peer support group, we've got one guy coming who, um, wanted to set something up for people with autism.
So, uh, he, who is a direct member, and my wife have now set up a monthly group helping people with autism who have diabetes and to know what to eat and have a discussion about their issues as well.
So what is great about this idea of developing stuff in communities and working with the, the community themselves is they have then the ideas and you can actually start new things which are linked.
And, um, and I think, going back to Focus on Food for Health, we are powerful as, um, citizens because we are the consumers, and we can actually, um, really make sure that the supermarkets and the people who trade the food are really delivering the food we want as long as we actually tell them what we want.
So I think this is, uh, w- the power of people needs to be what Rotary's about.
It's putting people together, working through community asset- Um, work and actually making sure we can bring change that is helpful to everyone Thank you.
And I think we've, um, moved on there.
That's really nice and because what you've talked about is not only the assets of the community, but actually that community power.
Um, and quite often we feel powerless in our community, whether it's about the food that's in our supermarket, about peace, um, and about all of those other things.
But actually, that community power, um, which is what's helped to eradicate polio, is something that's really moved things on.
And Rotary is really very good at helping people to do.
And I know there's lots of, lots and lots of different examples, but one of the things before we came on, um, which I sort of think, uh, links to this, is people often feel powerless.
But you also mentioned, well, we're, we're losing the baby boomers, and what will our society look like if we're not doing Rotary? Um, and Rotary isn't happening.
And because it's doing so many things and it links in often, as you've said, it doesn't do it on its own.
You know, Rotarians will go out and say, "Who else is out there to support us to do this?" Whether that's the World Health Organization for polio, or whether that's perhaps you've probably already accessed, I think you have when I've seen the links and things.
You've linked in with the, um, with the supermarkets to talk to them as well- What would it look like without Rotary and why, why might people think, do you know what, I think I might join that when they might think, well, I'm, I'm already doing those things.
Why might they join Rotary? Why is this really important? Really good point.
And I'm really concerned about baby boomers.
So I'm a baby boomer.
I want to retire.
It's time.
I still want to be involved and I still want to connect.
But the one thing I would go back, when you join Rotary, you're not just joining something in your local community.
You're joining an international organization.
And I think we've still got lots to learn from other people across the world.
And we used to love our visits to when we went to Sweden to meet Rotarians in Sweden because we learned so much about that culture.
And within direct membership, there are lots of different cultures as well.
And I'm learning so much about places like Nigeria and Ghana and how much money it takes just to put something right in a place like Ghana or Nigeria is really quite inexpensive to what it costs in these, in our own countries.
And the other day I was talking to someone called Michael from Nigeria who was telling me how he's teaching his employees to plant on his farm and how it's innovative really in what he's teaching them and how it will actually grow crops to actually provide food for not just the local community, but also for selling elsewhere and developing the business.
So I think that the point I make is that an organization like Rotary helps to join people to people.
I've said this before.
It helps you to network.
It helps you to actually understand the need And if we don't actually do things ourselves in our communities, then we'll be done too.
And I don't, I, I don't know about you lot, but I don't like being done to.
I wanna be part of the solution in my own community.
Um, so I'm hoping that people will still want to join Rotary.
It will help it to stay relevant and younger.
Um, I think that's really important.
It's not just, um, older people.
It's, we- we're, uh, direct membership is certainly attracting lots of younger people.
Um, and I think that's important because they'll have new ideas of what can be done.
Um, and, and I don't think it's about money.
It's about vision, and it's about action, and it's about doing it yourselves.
Um, and if you want to help a charity raise money, just get involved with the charity.
I don't think the actual...
You need to raise the money, but you can actually help the charity raise the money.
Thank you, Tim.
And I like what you've said there.
It's not about the money, but it's about the vix- vision and the action.
So it isn't always about raising money or donating money to do something to people or for people.
This is about action with and by people, um, in communities, and that that is absolutely international.
And, um, I belong to the forum, uh, and on the WhatsApp group.
So there's a massive WhatsApp group, isn't there, with people all sharing what they're doing.
And it just amazes me what's coming through and those things that are happening, as you say, internationally, and just sharing culture and p- sharing understanding and just getting to know people as well as those n- those networks.
Uh, and I have noticed that, you know, I sort of feel that I am one of the older members on that group.
There's quite a lot of young people on there as well, which is really nice to see.
And for me, being a direct member, I don't think I'd have to...
Well, I know I wouldn't have time to go along and have a lunch.
And for some people, you know, once a week or once a month, and for some...
Or evening meal, whichever it is that the club do.
And for some people, that might not be affordable either because that's, if you go along, then you're expected to go along and have a meal, then you need to pay for that.
So that, that's a cost.
Whereas for direct membership, the mem- the cost is quite minimal.
The time expectation is quite minimal.
And you can spend your time, um, and I've linked in with a couple of the projects to support them in various bits.
Often just quite small things, but just to support their work.
But you can spend as much or as little time as you've got available to do the things that you might be able to do at that moment in time.
So I know at the minute I'm quite busy, but I can do a few small things.
And as you said, Tim, my podcast, which is probably a Rotarian Type action that I'm doing, but there's almost, there's also those other things that I can do.
Sometimes as well, what I really like is just seeing what else is going on and just thinking, "Oh, wow, that's amazing that those things are happening."
So I've seen all the things that you've spoken about coming up on that WhatsApp group, and that in my mind sparks things and gives me ideas so that that influences how I work or what I think and what I think about and what I do as well.
Yes, Rotary is for busy people.
Absolutely.
Most, most definitely.
And, and cost of it is, is, is, um, minimal.
It's, it's less than a cup of coffee a week to, to be a direct member.
And it is give what time you can.
And I- it's quite interesting listening to what you're saying as, as a direct member, how you feel.
If you think what you see on the WhatsApp groups, um, all of this is going on in ev- in all those countries of the world.
Rotary is quite a powerful tho- tho- voice and, um, action taker.
But we don't see it, but we b- we know it's happening, and I think that's the exciting thing about Rotary.
You are part of that team even if you don't take part in it, if you see what I mean.
You are part of the team, and without you, it wouldn't happen.
And that's what's exciting.
Rotary is 1.4
million, I'll, uh, mention it again, people across the world.
And every- if you ever go across, um, on holiday or somewhere like that, um, you have a, a family, a member of your family in any country to help you.
That, now, m- to me, that's tremendous.
And, and w- we, we flew once to, um, Australia and stopped off in Singapore, and a Russian we knew who were part of Rotary, she g- uh, introduced us to the Rotary of Singapore.
They showed arou- us around Singapore, met us from the airport and showed us around, took us out for meals and things like that, and showed us, told us what they're doing.
And we felt really at home.
And if you join Rotary, remember you're not just joining wherever you live, you're joining it worldwide.
Thank you, Tim.
And yeah, that is another reason why I joined.
Our plan is that event- y- you know, in the not so distant future we will probably be moving.
So in moving to a different part and relocating to a different part of the country, I knew that actually if I'm a member of something like this, then, then there will be other people that I can connect with, and it doesn't feel quite so daunting, um, because I've r- I can already build up those links before I go or even when I get there to think, "Yeah, there's that part of the community that I can become a part of," if you like.
So, thank you.
So is there anything that I haven't asked you yet? 'Cause I'm aware I've been asking you lots of questions today, um, to try and sort of dig a little bit deeper and find out more.
But is there anything that I've missed that you wanted to share? No.
I, I've actually enjoyed listening to what you have to say about it actually, because as you join people to something new, you're asking them to help you develop it.
And, and what I believe is happening is we've got new direct members coming in now who are helping us to develop a new way Rotary will be done in the 21st century.
And although this is a pilot just in Great Britain and Ireland, I do believe it will become part of the way Rotary exists across the world.
So, um, really thank you to you because you are helping us develop this new way of doing things.
Thank you.
I r- appreciate that, and it's been quite nice for me to, to talk about the things and, and give my sort of thoughts as well.
So, yeah.
I just want to as we sort of come to an end to ask what, what's your final message to people? Obviously, one of those messages, join Rotary, it's amazing.
But- But if not, what thing would you like people to take away from today? What do you think's really important that everybody thinks about or does? I, I think it's valuing people, and it's, it's making sure that you join, uh, you, you, you introduce yourself to people.
Uh, one of the things me and my wife do every morning and every evening is take the dogs for a walk, and one of the things we enjoy doing is saying hello to people, saying good morning.
You are part of a big community, and be part of that community and, and, uh, join with people because it's people in the end that actually makes the world and makes your life much happier.
34:36
So it's people c- and then, and then the other thing is to actually think about how you can help in your communities to actually develop stronger ones that make it healthier and better places to live.
Thank you.
That's a really lovely note that you've ended on there, sort of being part of that community and then thinking, "What can I do to make that community stronger?" And probably just going out in the morning with your dog and saying hello to people and finding out who they are is a really great first step, um, and fits really well with Cormack Russell, as you well know, just going out and finding out who people are and asking what matters to them.
So thank you so much for joining me t- to- today, Tim.
I hope, well, you said you'd enjoyed it.
I hope you did.
Yeah, thank you so much.
Thank you.
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35:50
Well, I hope you enjoyed that conversation.
And what stayed with me is how much community begins with the smallest gestures, just going outside, saying hello, noticing who's around you, and then potentially choosing to be part of something bigger.
So the next time you step outside your front door, remember to say hello.
It's a small thing, but it really matters, and it's amazing the difference it can make.