Persistence! The Reason I am a Rotarian

Our first exchange student, Eduardo from Mexico

In 1971, my Wife and I started a reupholstering business out of our garage. Business grew rapidly, and we started purchasing frames and manufacturing custom-built sofas and chairs.  In 1982, after two moves to larger shops we rented a building next to Matthews Lumber, a locally owned lumberyard.  Our landlord and owner of the lumberyard was a Rotarian.  He approached me and said, "Ed, would you like to join Rotary?  It would be good for business."  I replied that I was working long hours and far too busy to even consider it.

Business was good and in 1992 we made the decision to build our own factory and showroom.  We built a modern shop where we manufactured our own frames, so we could do a lot more custom products.

We had just settled in when I received a phone call from Hy Muroff, our old landlord, "Ed, have you reconsidered joining Rotary?"  Again I declined.

It wasn't until 1997 that I got another call from Hy asking me to join Rotary.  This time I accepted and attended  meetings and later joined.

Thanks to Hy's persistence I have been a Rotarian since 1997. It was the best leadership training I could get.  Many Rotarians became good customers even though I never solicited them. I got active in Rotary Youth Exchange and my wife and I hosted seven students from around the world.  We have visited many of them and still keep in touch.  I have served on both the club and district level in Youth Exchange. Rotary has become a big part of my life and I have thoroughly enjoyed it.

These are the reasons I have committed to give a percentage of sales online from Edwards Headboards sales go to the great work of the Rotary Foundation.

I would recommend anyone in business already or starting their own business, or wanting to advance in their job or profession to consider joining Rotary to get the leadership training that rotary provides.

I also would recommend any high school student to become a Rotary Youth Exchange student.  You will learn another language and make world wide life long friends.  All of the students that we hosted are now married and have successful careers.  They are also still part of our family.

This is one instance that persistence pays. Thanks Hy.  I was a hard sell

Our building next to the lumberyard

Our new modern factory/showroom

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