Answering the call: Diane Westfield finds new ways to serve through Rotary

By Chelsea Retherford | Living 50 Plus

Dihanne Westfield has always been service-minded, and those around her tend to take note. That’s why her good friend, Dorothy Buchanan, began asking Westfield to join a local Rotary Chapter several years ago.

Initially, Westfield’s answer was “no.” As a retired educator who was heavily involved with her church, and who regularly volunteered with her sorority, the Muscle Shoals Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta, she said she felt she had “too many irons in the fire.”

“I attend Trinity Missionary Baptist Church here in Florence, and we have a prayer ministry that meets weekly,” Westfield said. “We go throughout the community, praying for others and helping out how we can, and then my involvement with Delta Sigma Theta in several roles keeps me busy. Those two are more than enough.”

Despite her full schedule, when Westfield was approached again by Buchanan about four years ago, a new proposal made her say “yes.”

The Florence Rotary Club had formed a partnership with Florence High School to develop the STRIVE (Students Taking a Renewed Interest and Value in Education) Program. Participating students are paired with a mentor, who is typically a Rotary member, to help them navigate their education and potential career paths.

“That was the real way she got me,” Westfield said with a laugh.

Westfield, who spent the early part of her 35-year career teaching at Mississippi State University, made the move to Florence in 1977. Throughout her career, she served as a K-12 librarian and taught at Coffee High School, Sam C. Harlan Elementary School, and Florence High School.

She retired as the technology coordinator of Florence City Schools around 13 years ago.

During her tenure as technology coordinator, Westfield initiated the one-to-one effort and wrote the grant that provided every student in her district with a personal computer.

She also oversaw the program that provided affordable internet connections to parents and students who might not have reliable access at home.

When Buchanan asked Westfield to help with the STRIVE Program at a time when there were more mentees than there were Rotary members willing to volunteer, Westfield didn’t hesitate.

“I could really relate to that program,” she said. “It’s all about helping and trying to steer students in a direction that is going to be beneficial to them. We have so much going on in our society, but Rotary strives to give students a role model who they can connect with. After having been involved with students and children all my life, I guess this was still something I wanted to do.”

At first, Westfield simply attended the STRIVE meetings, which took place every other week on campus. Westfield said the mentors would have lunch with the students, who drove the focus of each meeting by expressing their needs and areas where they felt they needed help or guidance. Westfield said each meeting also featured a speaker, much like the weekly Rotary luncheons.

“I really enjoyed it. So, Dorothy asked me again, ‘Please come to a Rotary meeting,’ and I did,” Westfield said. “We had lunch and an interesting speaker, and so, when she mentioned me joining again, I thought, yeah. I think I will.”

After joining, Westfield said she soon realized she had some preconceived notions about the club that weren’t quite true.

“I was so hesitant to join because Rotary was founded as an organization of business and professional leaders. Since I was no longer working, you know, I didn’t consider myself a professional,” she said.

Despite fearing she might feel a little out of place among members of the club, Westfield took the chance and found the opposite was true. She said Rotary was actually an excellent fit for her, and it allowed her to plug into her community in ways she hadn’t even considered.

“I was just very skeptical as to how I would benefit from the club,” she admitted. “For me, it’s always been a matter of giving back. I found Rotary was a good fit for me because one of the mottos is ‘Service above self.’ I found that even though I’m retired, I’m more connected with my community by helping with projects and things that have come along that I had never known about.”

As a Rotarian, Westfield has become passionate about several club projects, especially those that benefit students. Aside from STRIVE, she’s been involved in various fundraisers for Shoals Scholar Dollars, which provides scholarships to students attending Northwest Shoals Community College or the University of North Alabama.

Westfield said she’s participated in partnership projects between Rotary and the Salvation Army and with St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and she’s helped with playground maintenance projects at McFarland Park.

She said she also found personal growth through joining Rotary.

“Being a part of this club has given me a renewed sense of why we do what we do– to really look at what you’re doing and how you’re doing it,” she said. “That’s all because of — and I’m sure you’ve heard of — the Four-Way Test.”

Rotary’s Four-Way Test was developed as a moral compass for its members. It is comprised of four questions to help Rotarians and others who employ it to consider the impact that their actions and words can have on others.

Before introducing a new speaker at their weekly meetings, Rotarians recite the Four-Way Test: “Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?”

But Westfield said she takes that Four-Way Test to heart, and she uses it beyond the weekly luncheons.

“As a professional, when you have to make a big decision, imagine having that test. Four questions you can ask yourself to help ensure you’re doing the right thing,” she said. “That’s one of the things I’ve really tried to employ in my own life in all my decisions. It’s a tool that I try to make sure my mentees have as well.”