Today we welcome home District Governor Bender

Governor John C Bender letter to District 5970

On behalf of Rotary International President Ron D Burton, and his wife Jetta, I want to welcome you to Rotary District 5970. Located in the northern one half of Iowa with 54 clubs, we have nearly 2900 inspired Rotarians. The makeup of the District ranges from clubs almost 100 years old, to a recently chartered New Generations club. The District includes farming communities with miles of sprawling rich and majestic farm land, to metropolitan areas where large business and industry are located along with colleges and universities providing the highest quality education.

When I agreed to become a candidate for District Governor for the Rotary Year 2013-2014, I thought nothing about having to take office. It was only the end of 2010 and July 2013 seemed such a distant future. It is here now and we only have 365 days! I am blessed that the District has assembled a team of very dedicated and competent Rotarians who are committed to serving all clubs in the District. Our team is made up of a mix of new faces, and I would say experienced faces, that can provide opportunities for the newcomers to learn from the veterans.l-r John and Cindy Bender Ron and Jetta Burton

Our Rotary area is over 100 years old, as it wasn’t chartered as a District until 1915 and then it was District 10. Our largest club and oldest club of over 300 members is located in Cedar Rapids and will celebrate 100 years in 2014. Attend any of our clubs to receive a great Rotary welcome.

I begin my official club visits in the middle of July and extend until the middle of November. I look forward to seeing all of our members during my visits, listening to your club leaders and brainstorming with you how we can take your club and the District to new levels. District Governors change, but the values of Rotary do not!

We work hard on recruiting new members. I want to remind you not to forget about membership retention. Undertake meaningful and credible projects where every member can contribute. Most important of all, have frequent fellowship and get together to promote better bonding among club members. We are targeting membership strength of 3000 in three years’ time. Can we achieve it? Yes! We can and we will!

President Burton’s theme for 2013-2014 “Engage Rotary-Change lives” is so simple, yet so powerful! The dictionary states that engage means, employ, occupy, involve, engross, absorb, take part, or appoint. What does it mean to you!

I wish all of you a very enjoyable and fruitful Rotary Year ahead; together let’s “ENGAGE ROTARY-CHANGE LIVES”.

Best Regards,

John C Bender PE
District 5970
Governor 2013-2014