Rotary International District Governor, Dave Thomas
New Year’s Resolutions
I sit here on the morning of 12/22/19 knowing that Winter has started. The days will be getting longer as we start our 2020 trip around the sun. A time of reflections and new beginnings. Our nominating committee has done their job and recommended yet another individual to continue our Rotary journey. Thank you PDG Ed Swart, Holland – PDG Brian Robertson, SSM On. – DGE Jon Catlin, Cadillac – DGN Gary Chenoweth, Elk Rapids – Jim White, Grand Rapids – Peggy Anderson, Montague/Whitehall – Susan Crain, Muskegon – Denise Stefanko, Houghton Lake – and - Colleen Buckley, Fremont.
Many are now in the final push of Holiday Preparations. This will be followed by a week of relative calm as we reflect on the year to come. A time when we make our New Years resolutions. A quote from the film “Dances with Wolves” is “No Man can tell another what to do”. Nevertheless, I share this alleged quote from Steve Jobs as a reminder of what is most important in life – As Rotary continues to Connect the World.
Steve Jobs died a billionaire ( $10.2b ) at age 56. This is his final essay: "I reached the pinnacle of success in the business world. In some others' eyes, my life is the epitome of success. However, aside from work, I have little joy. In the end, my wealth is only a fact of life that I am accustomed to. At this moment, lying on my bed and recalling my life, I realize that all the recognition and wealth that I took so much pride in have paled and become meaningless in the face of my death.
You can employ someone to drive the car for you, make money for you but you cannot have someone bear your sickness for you. Material things lost can be found or replaced. But there is one thing that can never be found when it's lost - Life. Whichever stage in life you are in right now, with time, you will face the day when the curtain comes down. Treasure love for your family, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat yourself well and cherish others. As we grow older, and hopefully wiser, we realize that a $300 or a $30 watch both tell the same time. You will realize that your true inner happiness does not come from the material things of this world. Whether you fly first class or economy, if the plane goes down - you go down with it.
Therefore, I hope you realize, when you have mates, buddies and old friends, brothers and sisters, who you chat with, laugh with, talk with, have sing songs with, talk about north-south-east-west or heaven and earth, that is true happiness! Don't educate your children to be rich. Educate them to be happy. So when they grow up they will know the value of things and not the price. Eat your food as your medicine, otherwise you have to eat medicine as your food. There is a big difference between a human being and being human. Only a few really understand it. You are loved when you are born. You will be loved when you die. In between, you have to manage!
The six best doctors in the world are sunlight, rest, exercise, diet, self-confidence and friends. Maintain them in all stages and enjoy a healthy life."
Starting January 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., I will be offering monthly ClubRunner and Club Administration training via Zoom. This will be an interactive session for any and all Rotarians but specifically, club secretaries ,club administrators and anyone considering a leadership position in your club. In January we will be covering the My ClubRunner area.
For those of you that are interested, please contact me at the district office to reserve your place. I am looking forward to this fun and informative training session in the comfort of your homes.
As president, you lead and motivate your club, ensuring that club members feel valuable, inspired, and connected to each other. The year of planning before you take office is crucial to achieving the objectives you set out for your club. As president-elect, you work with your incoming leadership team to make sure that you have the tools that will make your year as club president a success. This year we will be offering two LIVE Pre-PETS training sessions and two Zoom sessions. Please visit the district website to register for one of these sessions which is required. Also, the Great Lakes Rotary Pets registration is now open and filling up quickly. Your club has already paid your registration fee to attend, so don't delay and register before all the rooms at the Radisson are gone.
Only six months away – Rotary International Convention in Hawaii!
There is still time to register to join nearly 30 of your fellow District 6290 Rotarians at the RI Convention, June 6-10, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Register today!
As your District Promotion Chair, I am happy to walk you through the registration process and provide an overview of what you should expect at Convention. Personally, I am eager to spend the week in beautiful Hawaii meeting Rotarians from all of the world as well as seeing familiar faces from our District. The breakout sessions will provide great ideas and inspiration for us to bring back to our Clubs.
The Cedar Springs Rotary Club had a busy November in support of local organizations. One of Club President Nicole Kozminski’s goals for the year is to get involved in more local service projects that can be done by members of the Club.
Starting on November 9, the Club conducted a Food Drive at Ric’s Market for the North Kent Connect Food Pantry. Two carts of groceries were donated by Ric’s patrons in support of their local food pantry.
On the 13th, the Club packed weekend food bags for about 240 students in Cedar Springs Public Schools who may have limited food available on the weekend as part of the West Michigan’s Hand2Hand Ministry. Their “mission is to eliminate local childhood hunger — one child at a time. We also believe prayer is as equally important as the food we distribute, and are committed to praying for each and every student.” The Club signed up to pack lunches again on December 13.
Another first was volunteering at the Mobile Food Pantry on November 18. At this event, Club members along with many other community volunteers, helped distribute food provided by Feeding America West Michigan. Recipients received fresh apples, oranges, greens, milk, potatoes, bags of precooked scrambled eggs and sausage, and baked goods. Food not distributed was then taken to the Cedar Springs Community Food Pantry. This included 75 lbs of potatoes, four boxes of oranges, and fifteen bags of the frozen eggs and sausage. The Club plans on continuing to participate in this monthly event, which is coordinated by Kent School Services Network.
If would like to learn more about Rotary, stop by the Cedar Springs Brewing Company at our next social on December 17 starting at 5:30 PM.
The Traverse City club under the leadership of Vern Gauthier, conducted an Indoor Ride to Eradicate Polio in the Fit For You Gym on Saturday 11.23 - the same day as the the live Ride to Eradicate Polio in Tucson. The 10 riders raised $2675 and those funds have been sent to The Rortary Foundation. As the TC club will get credit for these donations they have made their annual club contribution requirement through this project. They are sure they will give more before July, but it is interesting how easy it is to make the club donation requirement of $1500 by doing something as simple as this.
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My ClubRunner
