BETTY OPHEIM IS “AT YOUR SERVICE” THROUGH ROTARY INTERNATIONAL

By Beth Diane Bradley Photography Ben Nash www.ben-nash.com

“Service Above Self.”

Betty Opheim is an excellent example of a Rotarian who lives and breathes the official motto of Rotary International. And she has been serving faithfully since July of 1987, when Rotary opened its membership to women. Sponsored by John Stern of Straus, Opheim was one of the first local women to join.

At the time she joined Rotary, she owned “Merry Maids,” and found the opportunity to network with other business owners to be very beneficial. “You can’t help but learn from the other members,” Opheim said. She is now employed at NDSU’s computer science department. “Rotary is an important part of my life,” she explained. “I accomplish more in a group with the same set of goals and objectives than I could on my own. Rotarians are like-minded people. The purpose is to help others, to satisfy a need.”

Opheim is modest about her accomplishments, always giving credit to the group’s effort – but her high level of commitment is evident. She was the first woman to be president of her club – Fargo West Rotary – in 1992. And she received the Distinguished Rotarian Area of Club Service award from the district in May. The most prestigious award she has received was from Rotary International. It is the Four Avenues of Service Citation for Individual Rotarians in 2002. “It was presented to me by the RI President, Richard King, when he came to Fargo. I was very honored by it,” Opheim said. The award recognizes a Rotary member who provides outstanding efforts in all areas in which the clubs serve the community.

She credits Rotary for impacting her life in many ways. “I’ve had opportunities for personal growth I would never have had on my own,” Opheim said. She has been to Australia as a team leader for a Group Study Exchange – where she had the opportunity to stay in private homes and develop relationships with people who have become life-long friends. She participated in a similar program that took her to England.

Whenever Opheim travels, she attends Rotary meetings across the country and abroad. She brought back the idea for “Happy Dollars,” from a club in New Jersey back in the 80s, that is now used throughout the district. Members stand up at a Rotary meeting and offer a “happy dollar” if they want to mention a personal or family member’s accomplishment, or special life event. It raises money for the club and helps members get to know each other better on a personal level. She said it seemed more positive than the previous tradition of fining members for bragging.

When she talks about the impact women from the five Rotary clubs of Fargo--Moorhead have made, the one at the top of her list is Heather Ranck. She started “Project English,” a program that helps newcomers to the United States learn to speak English through computer-based learning and volunteer assistance. Over 150 immigrants have been trained in the use of Rosetta Stone software in our community as well as Grand Forks and

Bowman. Area Rotary Clubs and community members have donated nearly $7,000 and over 1000 volunteer hours to the program.

Some of the other prominent Rotary projects in our community include Miracle Field, the Rotary Centennial Universal Playground, The Great Plains Food Bank Backpack Program, Tri College University International Student Picnic, and Dictionaries for Third Graders.

Each club has its own projects but they also work on projects together. One of her Club’s pet projects has been the Red River Zoo. “In the past 15 years, we have raised $368,238. We believe in the zoo and what it does for quality of life in our city. Conservation is a big part of the zoo, and attendees learn about that, as well as the animals. Zoos teach responsibility and give children the opportunity to interact with animals they were previously not aware of,” Opheim said.

“I receive more from helping others than I give,” she said. “And that’s a fact, not a cliché. My fellow members know that’s my philosophy.” And based on her 27 years as a Rotarian, there’s no doubt she’s right about that.