District Governors Message - March 2022

By: Dick Hall
District Governor 2021-2022
RC of Portland
 
Spring is almost here.  We have already had some great spring temperatures and more will be coming soon.  I also enjoy the end of winter, when we get one last good storm, but very seasonable skiing temperatures.  We are seeing dramatic changes in the Covid, as we transition from epidemic to endemic.  Many clubs are taking advantage and planning more in person meetings, projects and socials. 
The district also is filling the calendar with in person events. Here are some of them.
  • March 7 – Presidents Elect and Assistant Governors will be gathering in South Portland for a New England Presidents Elect Training Seminar (NEPETS) graduation.
  • March 9 5:30 PM  Your Club and Beyond  Are you A New Rotarian since Jan. 2021? Curious about Rotary beyond your club? A member of your Club’s Membership Committee? A Rotary Veteran searching for a quick review of Rotary?  Then this discussion is for you.  Join via Zoom for a quick overview of Rotary and the Rotary Foundation seven areas of focus.  This will be fast paced with (12) 5-minute presentations on local work in each area.
    Please join this program prepared by District Membership Co-Directors Assistant Governor Lorraine Faherty  and Past District Governor  Peggy Belanger.
  • March 28 – The annual midyear (a little late) Leadership Dinner for Presidents, Presidents Elect and Vice Presidents will be at the Holiday Inn by the Bay in Portland.
  • April 16 – District Training Assembly is coming back in person.  This will be the first all-district in person event this Rotary year.  We have a great program and a great new venue, University of New England (UNE), Stevens Ave, Portland campus.  Club Officers, Board Members, Committee chairs and everyone else is invited.  Mark your calendars.
  • May 14 – District Conference will be a one-day event, 8:00 AM – 9:30 PM, in Portland.  The event is still in the planning stage with a final dinner that evening at Sable Oaks in South Portland.  This is a way for the whole district to celebrate our work during this year.
  • June 5-8 -- Rotary International World Conference in Houston Texas.  If you have never been to an RI Conference, you would be in for a treat. https://convention.rotary.org/
March is Water and Sanitation Month
on the Rotary Calendar. 
If your club is not already working on a water and sanitation project, I encourage you to consider one.  The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Rotary Action Group (WASH) is a group of Rotarians dedicated to helping clubs and districts with their WASH projects. The group’s primary focus is to develop and support projects that provide sustainable and safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. WASH can assist in many ways, providing clubs and districts with human, technical, and financial advice.  For more information https://wash-rag.org/.
With Covid coming under control, I encourage clubs to do two things.
Number One:  Actively reach out to those you have not seen in a while.  Invite them to return as meetings transition to in person.  I also encourage all clubs to maintain a hybrid option, as personal circumstances may delay many from returning right away.  When I say actively reach out, I am suggesting personal contact by telephone, in person, or mailed notes.  Emails and texts are great communication tools, but they both lack the personal touch that people need to really feel invited.
Number Two:  Look around your community and see what is needed.  Many communities have been forced to change over the last two years.  Many support groups have needed to severely restrict their services.  Some things have just gone away.  When you see a new need, band together with other Rotarians to solve that need.  We are still a very strong organization, and we can help lead our communities toward a new tomorrow.
Thank you all for everything that you do. I look forward to hearing about all the wonderful things you will be doing.  We have four more months in this Rotary year, which is more than enough time to increase service to your community.
 
Dick Hall