Are you kidding me??!?!?!
This is my last newsletter article as District Governor, where has the time gone? How is it possible that our Rotary year is almost up? How have I not done more? How much lemonade did I drink this year?
So many questions and really a short amount of time left this Rotary year. As we move to June and celebrate Rotary Fellowships Month there is still a lot of wonderful things going on.
We have the Rotary International Virtual Convention, which is easier than ever to attend and enjoy it from the comfort of your own home. I would encourage you to sign up at ww.rotary.org and participate in the events that you are able to from June 12-16th.
As we are winding down, I want to encourage all Clubs to make sure that their Rotary Foundation giving is at the level that they expect it to be. As a gentle reminder, we have until June 30th to get donations into Rotary International. Most of the staff is still working from home so getting any donations in need to happen as soon as possible. We do not want any Clubs that expect to make the average of $100 per member to be qualified for Foundation Grants this fall to have an unpleasant surprise. Every Club President can look at the report and see where their own Club’s giving is currently.
I want to thank the Club Presidents for this year. It could be argued that this has been one of the most challenging years in our history. I think we have definitely had our Opportunities. As RI President Holger Knaack has stated “Everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere.” I believe that this year has shown time and time again the truth of that statement. We have had numerous Clubs that have raised money for their communities, the District, and the world. We have produced masks, face shields, personal protective equipment and donated them to people that we will never know. Rotary does that each and every day here and abroad. A call goes out (India is the current hotspot of COVID) the need is oxygenators and within days people have contributed and oxygenators were being shipped to India to meet that need. Individuals in our District have joined with others and through one of the Districts that we work with our Zone has sent over $100,000 in supplies and it is still growing. If you or your club is interested please let us know and we will be happy to show how you can help.
Back to the Club Presidents, you all are amazing leaders and I am proud to call you fellow Rotarians. You have led from Zoom, hybrid, in-person, and back again for several of you. Some have only been on Zoom the entire year and that has had new challenges/opportunities. There are many clubs in our District that are planning on going back to in person at this point or very shortly. My hope is that everyone stays safe, encourages social distancing, and encourages vaccinations in your community.
There are three items that I was not able to finish and we hope to continue working on into the next Rotary year:
- Get an effective PI Committee together for the District
- Get a District Rotaract Representative for the Board
- Form an effective District DEI/Social Justice Committee to over programs or as a resource for the Clubs
There is never enough time in a year to get everything done. If you have any interest please let me know! However, through the District Governor line of Immediate Past District Governor, District Governor, District Governor Elect, and District Governor Nominee, we have had great continuity and planning. I know that the District is in good hands, I look to support District Governor-Elect Gary Chenoweth during his year and will help in every way I can. I want to thank all of the District Leadership as you have worked hard to help our District stand out in our Zone and to help our Clubs in every way possible. I also want and have to thank Kathy Hegedus for all the work you have done. All of the emails, the phone calls, and the discussions of wisdom I greatly appreciate and will ever hold you in high esteem (especially with our matching End Polio Now shoes!)
I will still attend a variety of meetings around the District as no Club has all the best ideas and I love meeting and talking with people. I still plan on attending the Canadian Clubs in person as soon as I can cross the border!
However, I have drunk way too much lemonade this year. I am going to switch it up and have an ice tea or mix them and have an Arnold Palmer!
Thank you for allowing me to be the District Governor it has been an honor and a privilege that I will never forget. I am proud of our District and our Clubs.
