by Carolyn James

Stein addresses Rotar-ians at his installation dinner.

It’s what Rotary is not that makes it so important to Aaron Stein.

"It’s non political, non governmental and non religious," said Stein of Babylon Village who was recently elected District Governor of Rotary, Suffolk County. "It is about doing the right thing for the right reasons."

Stein, who leans forward with a sense of enthusiasm when he talks about Rotary, and who admits he’d do Rotary work 24-7 "if I didn’t have to make a living," has been preparing for the role of District Governor for three years. He’s taken part in the intensive training provided for Governors by Rotary International, and made a commitment to ensure that during his tenure Rotary of Suffolk County becomes recognized and grows. Part of that is reaching out and providing something important for the community at large.

To accomplish that, Stein is working with all Rotary Clubs in the county and bringing a Peace Conference April 12, 2002. The conference is designed for high school and college students and will feature Kim Phuc, the young Vietnamese girl whose picture brought international recognition to the plight of children in war. The 1972 photograph, taken by Pulitzer Prize winning photographer Nick Ut, shows Phuc running naked, her body seared by napalm. It speaks for the millions of children who were killed or severely injured in that war, and who continue to live in danger as a result of hidden land mines and explosives, and the the lack of medical care and treatment in countries such as Kosovo, Angola, Afghanistan, Cambodia and Central America.

Rev. Jeffrey Reichmann offers the invocation at Aaron Stein's installation.

Phuc, who is now a grown woman with a child of her own, has turned her personal tragedy into an international effort dedicated to helping children who are victims of war and terrorism. The Kim Foundation supports the work of inter-national organ-izations that provide free medical assis-tance. Such organizations might manufacture and fit children with prosthetic or orthopedic devices, provide therapy, wheelchairs and rehabilitative services. Their goal is to enable these disabled children to become full and productive members of their communities.

High School and college students will have an opportunity to hear Kim Phuc speak at a Peace Conference sponsored by Rotary of Suffolk County. The event will be held at the Suffolk County Community College Field House, April 12, 2002. Tickets are $15, which includes lunch.

The event will kick off with a Black Tie Gala. Proceeds of the event go to the Kim Foundation.

For information, or to order tickets, individuals, teachers, guidance counselors, scout leaders and youth advocates can contact Aaron Stein, Governor, Rotary District 7260 at (631) 669-0020 (Fax (631-669-0158), or go to the conference website at rotarypeace@aol.com.

Babylon Village Rotary Club Officers take the oath of office left to right, Frank Seibert, Gail Sullivan and Bill Visgauss.

Stein is a graduate of Babylon Village Schools and the owner and operator of Norton and Siegel Insurance Company in Babylon. Bob Schapiro, a longtime resident and owner of Tempus Fugit recalls Stein when he was in school with his daughter, Mary. "Both were involved in a special class that provided them with the opportunity of taking Friday’s off from school to go to the Courts in Riverhead and work in the court room," said Schapiro. "It was a wonderful program with dedicated teachers that offered students like Aaron and my daughter who had a lot of drive and energy with wonderful opportunities."

In typical fashion, Stein has been preparing for the job of District Governor for Rotary of Suffolk County for three years.

"Aaron is a bundle of energy and ideas about to explode," said Richard Handler, an Amityville attorney and Rotarian, who has worked with Stein in the past. "You feel his wind before he gets there."

"I have watched Aaron grow in this community and as a Rotarian and have a tremendous amount of respect for him," said Gustave Fishel, a Babylon Village attorney and Rotarian. "He is an extremely dedicated and fine person.

former District Governor Doris Sareant enjoys a moment of friendship as she steps down.

Fishel recalls the many times that Stein would speak to the Babylon Rotary Club about one project or another. "He’d always be filled with enthusiasm and excitement and we’d have to sit on him because when it came to Rotary, it was easy for him to get carried away," said Fishel laughing. "But he always took that criticism with a tremendous amount of grace and I knew he would be a good leader as he went along."

Stein has a bachelor's degree in business management from SUNY Old Westbury and the professional designations Certified financial Planner and Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter, as well as a securities license. He and his wife Mary Ann have two children, Heather who is 17 and Ben who is 14.

Rotary is in the Stein blood, passed down by Stein’s grandfather who was a founder of Babylon Rotary in 1947, and his father, who was a longtime member. The idea for the peace conference came to him during a workshop Stein was attending in Anaheim, California, when he first heard Phuc speak. "Every District Governor elect had the idea of having her speak to their clubs and I knew that if we stood any chance of getting her to Suffolk, I would have to act fast," recalls Stein.

That very night, he thought about her speech and what it would take to get her to come to Suffolk. He developed a concept for the Peace Conference, aware he said that Phuc enjoyed speaking to young people. "I got off a note to her by e-mail and heard back from her that she would come to our District," said Stein.

a view of the crowd that gathered for Stein's installation.

The work of a District Governor is intense. In addition meeting with every club in the County, leading, guiding and representing them on the local and international level, Stein has to organize a district convention. Adding the Peace Conference to his agenda was aggressive, to say the least, but Stein said it is just the thing that he believes will elevate the name of Rotary and help it grow.

Rotary’s influence around the world is growing. As Europe undergoes major political and governmental changes, the Rotary Clubs have helped to bring people together on a new level—shared concerns and human goals. Rotary International has been working with communities, organizing new clubs in Europe at a record pace.

"Many of these people have been political enemies for generations and what we are finding is that they are looking toward Rotary as a means of doing things together without having to deal with all of the traditional problems that divided them in the past," said Stein. "They are taking a human approach to solving their problems."

"Aaron is an inspirational Rotarian who leads by example," said Lynda Distler, past president of the Lindenhurst Rotary. "He impresses upon all of us the importance of the work that Rotary does."

Distler recalls a recent presentation Stein made to the Lindenhurst Club pointing out the importance of Rotary around the world. "He told us how in war torn countries in Europe both sides will agree to put down their guns to allow Rotary to go in and do humanitarian work," said Distler. "These are countries that have been at civil war for centuries and the cease fires permit Rotary to bring medical treatment like polio prevention to the children. It was very moving."

Stein has adopted the slogan Make Time for Rotary for his Governorship and is asking every Rotarian to do that, particularly as the District’s major commitment to the Peace Conference approaches. But more than that, Stein is reaching out to the community of Suffolk at large, asking them to do as Rotary does: put politics, religion and government issues aside and work to help children around the world who are desperately in need of the kind and soft touch of the human hand.