Assistant District Governor Craig Burnett introduced Monday's speaker -- Jeff Reed, who is currently the Governor for Rotary District 6270, our District. Jeff is a professor of management and the Dean of the School of Business at Marian College. He is a member of the Fond du Lac Morning Rotary Club.
(L-R) Jeff Reed, John Fuller, and Craig Burnett
Jeff first thanked our Club for its international efforts, including our efforts in assisting those in the Philippine as well as being part of the Peru Soy Cow program, and for continuing to support and welcome Rotary Youth Exchange students, and offered a special welcome to our newest RYE student, Michel.
Next, Jeff explained why he's a Rotarian. First, he said, it's because he was asked -- by his father and his brother who were both Rotarians. Second, he said he joined because he wanted to participate in the business networking and to enjoy the fellowship of other business people. He reminded members that Rotary first started as a business networking group and then evolved into a service organization. Third, he said he's a Rotarian because he believes in providing service to one's community, emphasizing that he's not a RINO (Rotarian In Name Only).
He then talked about a special "Rotary Moment" in his life. He said that occurred when he traveled to Irkutsk, Russia as a member of a group that was checking on a "micro loan" project in Siberia than a U.S. Rotary Club was supporting. He said he say that the Russian Rotarians are a lot like us, as they work to serve others as U.S. Rotarians do. "It's just about people helping people," he said.
He asked members, "Why are you a Rotarian, and what is your value proposition? What do you expect to give and get from Rotary?
Next he outlined the District's goal for the coming year.
1. Sustainability -- to plant a tree for every Rotarian in the District (2,800). He asked our Club to plant a tree for each member ... or have each member plant a tree. This is a request of RI President Ian Risely.
2. Support the eradication of polio in the world -- Rotary International has a goal to raise $50 million each year over the next 3 years to finally eradicate polio, for a total of $150 million. The Bill Gates Foundation has committed to a two-for-one match toward whatever monies Rotary International raises. If RI raises $150 million; the Gates Foundation will provide $300 million, for a total of $450 million to be dedicated to this effort.
Jeff noted that every Club in District 6270 is being asked to donate $1,500 each year to that cause.
Jeff said that since this program was started in 1985, 2.7 billion children around the world have been "vaccinated" against polio, at a cost of $1.7 billion. This year, there have been 9 new cases of polio -- found in Pakistan and Afghanistan -- the most recent just two weeks ago. Nigeria has had no new cases this year. The world must be polio free for 3 consecutive years before polio can be considered eradicated. Jeff noted that estimates are that if the polio eradication program was stopped now and the job was completed, that as many as 200,000 cases of polio could arise in 10 years.
The District is asking Clubs to report their volunteer hours and the service projects undertaken as well to report that amount of money that is given back to the community. That's a request of current RI President Ian Risely, so that RI can share the impact Rotary has on the world.
He reminded members of the six areas of focus of Rotary: Clean water, peace in the world, disease eradication (polio), basic education, and maternal and child health.
The District has goals to strengthen and support its Clubs, to reverse dwindling membership numbers -- specifically, the District hopes to increase total membership by 54 members. That's one new positive growth member for each Club in the District.
Lastly, Jeff announced that a Tri-District Convention (Tri-Con) with Districts 6220, 6250, and 6270, will be held on May 4-6, 2018, at the Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells. Information and reservations are available online at www.tricon2018.com. Also a Success Summit will be held here in Oshkosh on October 11 at LaSure's Hall.
President John asked Jeff to lead the Club in the Four-Way Test to close the meeting.