From Kyoto to Manhattan: A Rotary Travelogue
On Tuesday, September 15, we did not need passports. The program was a travel log given by two of our own members. Jason Obermeier took us to Japan, and Trevor Chambers took us back to New York City. It was a morning of good stories, and it also had one moment we will remember for a long time.
Ten Years, One Trip to Japan
Jason and his wife went to Japan from March 6 to 15, 2026, for their 10th wedding anniversary. He did more than show us photos. He gave the room a complete guide that anyone who wants to make the trip can use.
He started with the flight. There are no direct flights from Raleigh to Tokyo, so the trip needs one connection and usually takes 17 to 20 hours. Then he explained the Shinkansen, Japan's bullet train, and its three speeds between Tokyo and Kyoto:
Nozomi, about 2 hours 15 minutes. It is the fastest, but the standard JR Pass does not cover it.
Hikari, about 2 hours 40 minutes. The JR Pass covers it fully.
Kodama, about 3.5 to 4 hours. It stops at every station, has the lowest fare, and the JR Pass covers it.
Next he explained how to travel inside each city. In Tokyo you use the subway and train network, and in Kyoto you use the subway and buses. In Yugawara, in Kanagawa, you take a train and then a taxi for about 1.5 miles to a traditional ryokan inn. He also gave many small tips that only a person who has made the trip can give.
Trevor's New York
Trevor gave a different kind of travel talk. He told us about his life in New York City. He showed a map of the city and talked about the neighborhoods, restaurants, and places that he loves and that he recommends to anyone who visits.
Then his talk became more serious. Trevor told us that he was in New York on September 11, 2001, and that he watched the towers fall together with other New Yorkers. His talk came four days after the 25th anniversary of that day.
Why We Serve
Rotary started as a group of people who wanted to know each other better, and that is still the base of what we do. Today Rotary has more than 1.2 million members in about 200 countries. A club of that size stays connected because its members share their stories with each other.
Tuesday was an example of the Four-Way Test in action: Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Jason's practical advice and Trevor's personal memory both made us closer. We know our fellow members better now, and that makes our service stronger. When we work together at the Golf Classic, on the Styres Scholarship, or in our community projects, we do it as friends and not as strangers. Service Above Self starts with people who care about each other.
You Are Invited
Do you have a trip, a story, or a place you love? We want to hear about it. We meet every Tuesday at 7:30 AM at Carolina Country Club, 2500 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, and on Zoom. Come for the coffee and stay for the company.
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