District Governor Marilyn Hanson

Joyce introduced Marilyn as a member of the Orillia Club who has held many positions there - Treasurer for 4 years, President in 2007-08, Membership Chair who brought in 10 new members a year over her several terms - and who has received many awards including a Paul Harris, an Avenue of Service and RI Recognition.  She was Assistant Governor for 3 years.  She is retired from her accounting business, sits on the Board of the Greenhaven Shelter for Women and trains and shows Border Collies.

Marilyn said she wanted to tell her Rotary story because it helped to illustrate aspects of the organization and its workings.  Back when she was manager of the Orillia Community Development she spoke to Rotary a couple of times but had no insight into what it was or what it represented - perhaps it was some kind of cult?  So her first experience indicates that a visitor to Rotary needs to be introduced to it.  But when she was working on a conference a Rotarian took on a paid position but turned around upon completion and had the money donated to the Foundation so she learned about what the Foundation was and what Polio Plus was trying to do.

She opened an Accounting Firm and was asked to join but she was too busy in her new career.  She was asked again later but was too busy expanding her company.  When she was asked the third time she was ready and she says the lesson is not to quit on a candidate - keep trying.  She is as concerned as everyone about recruiting new members but she pointed out that when she joined there were 1.2 million members.  Since then over one million new members have joined and the total membership is now 1.2 million.  She wants individual Clubs to recruit, of course, but she thinks we have a retention problem and she suggests striking a Retention Chair to keep members involved and committed.  She's going to post some graphs on the website to track progress.

In response to a survey most older people questioned said the first thing they thought of about Rotary was fellowship but younger people thought of doing something important and developing leadership skills.  We need to bring those young people in and get them involved.  Or, bring them in and let them go off in a new direction.  Don't try to make them fit our mould.

She worked on a Friendship exchange that brought people from Brazil to Orillia and she enjoyed it but it was when she went to Brazil that she became a Rotarian - when she saw what real poverty looked like and how much any donation can help and how much they appreciate the help.  She went to South Africa and had many more Rotary moments there.  Then to Ecuador on a wheelchair delivery and she is joining another to Jamaica in January.  These trips are emotional but the hands on aspect give you that Rotary feeling.

The District Conference will be at the Fern Resort on Oct. 26 and the Governor's Ball will be at Casino Rama so be sure to set that date aside.

Marilyn showed us the organization chart of the District and it's a lot more complicated than you'd think - 75 people and that's not all the Committee members so it's a big job and a big organization and maybe some members might like to help - the Youth Exchange Committee is a major commitment with several weekend trips and they could use some help.

She encourages us all to Engage Rotary - Change Lives.  The life you will change the most will be your own.