REFLECTIONS from PDG Bill Gormont

Posted by Bill Gormont
 
Now that I am a PDG, I wanted to reflect on my year serving District 7120. The year has gone by so quickly. It seemingly was just the blink of an eye.
 
Twelve months ago, I shared with you a vision of opportunities. And oh what we as Rotarians have accomplished.
 
In 1985 there were 125 Polio endemic countries. And we had the audacity to think that when we weren’t at our jobs, in our spare time, we could eradicate Polio from the face of the earth.
  • As we started our year of service on July 1, 2015 those 125 countries had been reduced to only three - Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nigeria.
  • During this Rotary year, Nigeria was certified Polio free, leaving only two - Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  • In 1985 there 350,000 children diagnosed with Polio annually.
  • Since January 1, 2016 there have been only 17 reported cases.
During the 2015-16 year in our district …
  • District Simplified Grant participation saw 34 clubs received project and/or scholarship grants totaling $47,055.
  • Our Global Grant activity supported the following 5 projects. Our district’s $46,000 investment in these projects when supported by Rotary World Fund contributions and additionally other partners providing aid and assistance to these projects totals nearly a half million dollars.
    • Breast Cancer Detection in Kosovo,
    • Healthy Hearts Pediatric Detection in Turkey,
    • Water Project in Uganda,
    • Education and Health Center in Nepal and a
    • Global Scholar from Victor-Farmington who will study Public Administration in Italy to impact economic development for women around the world.
  • Our Rotary Foundation support has reached
    • Over 107% of the goal our clubs set for the Annual Share Fund
    • Over 178% of the goal our clubs set for Polio Plus
    • And the money keeps rolling in.
  • Our district membership has been strengthened. During the last seven years we were losing on average 50 members per year. The most recent numbers from RI shows us at a gain of 100.
    • We are the only district in Zones 28 and 29 (28 districts), with this kind of growth.
    • Last year we had 69 clubs and one provisional club.
    • Tonight we have 70 clubs in our district.
    • A month ago at the district conference I signed the paperwork for the creation of a new provisional club in the Southwest quadrant of Rochester.
    • And two weeks ago I signed the documentation for yet another provisional club focusing on young professionals. We’ve already made contact and obtained a commitment of support with a similar club on the west coast.
    • Then on Tuesday of this week, I signed the paperwork for the creation of yet another Interact Club.
  • And then there was our very successful district conference in Hershey PA where 400 Rotarians, family members and YEX assembled for Inspiration, Education and Celebration. The focus was on youth supporting our consistently strong youth program.
  • This afternoon I participated in the graduation of our newest youth leaders at the Rotary Youth Leadership Award. Here are only a few of the comments made by the students as they received their completion certificates.
    • Communication is always key in everything you do.
    • We learned to be more patient.
    • You can only achieve success through failure.
    • I came to RYLA very shy and became more comfortable in front of groups.
    • We all met as strangers and are leaving at the beginning of life-long friendships.
    • We have all grown huge – HUGE – HUGE amounts as leaders.
    • You have to learn how to lead yourself before you can lead others.
    • It's not always the loudest person who makes the best leader.
You’ll remember last fall at my Governor's Official Club Visit as I spoke about the essence of our 2015-16 Rotary Presidential theme, when I offered the thought that …
  • When you “gift your time in service for any cause”; you touch lives...
  • When you “gift your material resources”; you uplift lives...
  • And, when you “gift those things with both love and compassion”; YOU become a gift to humanity … a gift to the world.
WE are a gift, and Rotary is simply the vehicle for us to deliver the good works that we do. 
 
The successes I’ve shared tonight are not my gift, it’s OUR gift. It’s the men and women in our 11 county district covering 7,000 sq mi that made this happen. Stand up tall – shout our success from the hilltops – and let the world know that every day Rotarians are Joining Leaders to Exchange Ideas to Take Action. That’s just what we do.
 
Little did I know that our 2016-17 theme would be Rotary Serving Humanity. When you blend together the theme of this year “Be a gift to the world” and next year’s theme “Rotary Serving Humanity”, it sounds like ... “Be a gift to the world by serving humanity."
 
Tonight, I have the privilege and distinct honor to hand over the reins of a vibrant, exciting, growing and very healthy district to DGE Tom Rogers.
 
So, until we meet again in my new role as our district’s International Service Director, from the bottom of my heart … I thank you …
  • For your service,
  • For your trust, and
  • For your confidence in me.
I wish you all the best in the many years of Rotary service ahead as you have been and will continue to “Be a gift to the world."
 
Yours in Rotary Service,
PDG Bill