District Governor John Tomlinson
Posted by Bill Molesworth
Rod introduced our District Governor. We heard about the bust again and made referrence, again, to what a wonderful year it was when himself was President. Doug Ewing wondered aloud if he could recall who the District Governor was that year and whether that might have had some influence on the success of Rotary. Turns out, surprise, to have been Tom Ewing.
John joined the Nipissing Club in 1999 and was President for 2002-3. He joined Rotary 26 years ago in Bolton and was President there for 1991-92. He's got perfect attendance, has served on several committees, took a GSE to South Africa, is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Benefactor and, outside of Rotary, is a volunteer firefighter.
He met Mary Lou 38 years ago in Daytona Beach. She's been at home with the kids and a Public Health Nurse. They have 3 kids and 2 grandkids.
John joined the Nipissing Club in 1999 and was President for 2002-3. He joined Rotary 26 years ago in Bolton and was President there for 1991-92. He's got perfect attendance, has served on several committees, took a GSE to South Africa, is a Paul Harris Fellow and a Benefactor and, outside of Rotary, is a volunteer firefighter.
He met Mary Lou 38 years ago in Daytona Beach. She's been at home with the kids and a Public Health Nurse. They have 3 kids and 2 grandkids.
Governor John said that he'd heard of the Midland Club, especially in connection with our Golf Tournament. He had always hoped to play in it but didn't know if he should join members of his current club or the reprobates from Bolton who come up every year with a trailer.
He asked us what we thought Rotary meant. He said there is an official 31 word definition and there are all the avenues of service and the good works supported. But it has come to be a bigger question for him since he heard a candidate for the next GSE team say he couldn't answer the question. John wondered what kind of Rotarian that was but the candidate went on to say 'how do I share what's in my heart? How can I express the joy in the face of people given running water?'
A few years ago John led a GSE team of teachers to South Africa and on the first day they were taken to a school that was an abandoned migrant workers camp - more like a prison - that had one building for the headmistress and a barbed wire fence. No books, water, learning materials, just some volunteers trying to help the kids at a ratio of 90 - 1. But the kids were eager to learn, to break the cycle and were happy to be there.
He compared it to his work experience - the complaints that were brought to him over the smallest things, the thought that we have so much and never think it's enough.
He said he learned to cry in Africa, he learned to slow down, to stop racing so fast that he couldn't see and to 'listen to the whisper'.
He encouraged the Club to use the Foundation. Bolton has used 3 matching grants to put a school there, with buildings, water, materials and trained staff. That's the power of the group.
He thinks the great strength of Rotary is the fellowship - we are always at home and always surrounded by friends - we just haven't met them all yet. Through these friends we break down barriers.
This year's theme is Lead the Way and he challenged us all to consider what we have accomplished, whether we have made our Club, our community, better. Whether we have led, by example or through our actions.
Alison thanked Governor John for sharing his experiences and his desire to help others and for his commitment to Rotary.
He asked us what we thought Rotary meant. He said there is an official 31 word definition and there are all the avenues of service and the good works supported. But it has come to be a bigger question for him since he heard a candidate for the next GSE team say he couldn't answer the question. John wondered what kind of Rotarian that was but the candidate went on to say 'how do I share what's in my heart? How can I express the joy in the face of people given running water?'
A few years ago John led a GSE team of teachers to South Africa and on the first day they were taken to a school that was an abandoned migrant workers camp - more like a prison - that had one building for the headmistress and a barbed wire fence. No books, water, learning materials, just some volunteers trying to help the kids at a ratio of 90 - 1. But the kids were eager to learn, to break the cycle and were happy to be there.
He compared it to his work experience - the complaints that were brought to him over the smallest things, the thought that we have so much and never think it's enough.
He said he learned to cry in Africa, he learned to slow down, to stop racing so fast that he couldn't see and to 'listen to the whisper'.
He encouraged the Club to use the Foundation. Bolton has used 3 matching grants to put a school there, with buildings, water, materials and trained staff. That's the power of the group.
He thinks the great strength of Rotary is the fellowship - we are always at home and always surrounded by friends - we just haven't met them all yet. Through these friends we break down barriers.
This year's theme is Lead the Way and he challenged us all to consider what we have accomplished, whether we have made our Club, our community, better. Whether we have led, by example or through our actions.
Alison thanked Governor John for sharing his experiences and his desire to help others and for his commitment to Rotary.