John Seculoff, of Dowagiac, is a financial advisor with Edward Jones and a member of the Dowagiac Rotary Club. Seculoff was recently named president elect of the organization, and will assume a one-year term as head of the club in July.

How long have you been a member of Rotary?

I actually didn’t join Rotary until I came to Dowagiac. I think May was when I officially joined. I had been to some meetings before that, but I think it was start of May when I became an active member.

Who got you involved with Rotary?

It was a combination of [Rotarians] Fred Mathews and Barbara Groner. I knew about Rotary for years, but in the areas I worked before, the local Rotaries only wanted one of each profession, and they always had financial advisors. So I was never able to join a Rotary in those areas, in Indiana and Arizona, until I came here, where they welcomed me with open arms.

What made you want to join?

The opportunity to get meet to not just business leaders, but other leaders in the community, people who genuinely want to make a difference. You don’t join Rotary because you want to pay dues or eat a delicious lunch every Thursday. You do it because you want to make a difference in the community and make it a better place. It is nice to get together with like-minded people.

How did you become president elect?

I came to a meeting seven minutes late, and I sat next to Sandra [Bessey, current Rotary president] and asked her, “What did I miss?” She told me, “You were just named the next president.” She was joking when she said that, but when I talked with her afterwards she asked if I would seriously consider it, and I said sure. I didn’t join with the intention of doing nothing, though I didn’t think the first order of business would be president.

I’m looking forward to it. I’m flattered they considered me.

What are your responsibilities at the moment?

I do the agendas and make sure that we have a program slotted every week, and I help get the word out about it. In the background, we are already starting to do some financial numbers, some goals we want to reach for giving and community involvement for this year. We are already starting to put that plan into motion.

Is there any training sessions you have to attend?

Just this past Saturday, I was in Kalamazoo for some pre-president elect training. I will be in Columbus, Ohio, not this coming weekend but the one after that for some president elect training there. They call it “drinking from a fire hose.” They give you all things Rotary and hope that some of the information sticks.

What is the best part with helping out with Rotary?

I believe that it not just enough to have and maintain a business here. You have to be part of the community. This is a great way to do it. I didn’t expect it [the position] to come so fast, but business owners and residents of the community will hopefully get to know us a little bit better. We will continue to grow our footprint here with what we do.

What would you say to someone to encourage them to get involved with Rotary?

It sounds cliché, but it is truly better to give than to receive. You feel joy in giving to someone to make their situation better. You just can’t explain to someone how that feels until they are in those shoes, and they feel it themselves.