Governor's Visit August 4th
Roger & Sharon McCabe visited our club this week.
Roger began by telling us that he believes that Rotary will continue to be a successful organization because of its Ethics, Service, Polio Eradication and the Rotary Foundation.
He quoted a recent description of ethics as, "doing the right thing when it costs you more than you want to pay." He stressed that we can show these high ethical values to our youth by participating in Interact, Rotaract and Rotary Youth Exchange programs.
Regarding Service he stressed participation in the Ambassadorial Scholars program, Group Study Exchange and RYLA.
Using slides he showed these rotary projects: Memorial Park at
He discussed RI President D. K. Lee's plans for water, sanitation and the prevention of death under age 5 years. This is a major part of President D. J. Lee's Make Dreams Real theme.
Roger next discussed the "Every Rotarian - Every Year" theme that Membership has borrowed from the Rotary Foundation. Quoting statistics that 80% of Rotarians have never proposed a new member, he told of his own Rotary experience in which he went 12 years before being asked to take on a significant responsibility in Rotary. Before that time he had never proposed a new member. Since that time he has proposed a new every year for the past 13 years.
He reminded us that there is a new Classification in Rotary - Volunteer. This should allow our club to have 5 new members with this classification.
Regarding our Polio Plus program shared with the CDC, UNICEF and the WHO, we now have two more supporters - Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, who have pledge $100 million dollars - challenging Rotary to match this amount. We can reach this goal by each of our clubs donating $1000 a year for 3 years.
In closing Roger told about the newly formed Paul Harris Society. Membership requirement is a $1000 per year donation to the Rotary Foundation for an indefinite period of time. Paul Harris Society members will be honored at District Conference next year.
(This was one of the most informative and inspiring Governor's messages that I have heard in my 35 years of Rotary. - editor)