Hello Rotarians and friends of Rotary District 5060.
I write this message from a unique and extremely privileged vantage point as both the immediate past Governor and the incoming Governor. Having served as the District Governor for the past year and as part of our leadership team for the past four years, I am thoroughly aware that the Covid-19 pandemic and its restrictions, have affected nearly every aspect of the Rotary experience. For an organization, whose first object is the development of acquaintance as an avenue of service, being prohibited from meeting in person has tested our organization in many significant ways.
Rotarians in our District have stepped up in these difficult times and have done amazing things. Rotarians, perhaps reluctantly, embraced Zoom and electronic payments as a means of maintaining Rotary contacts and projects. The creativity and adaptability our members showed in implementing this cutting-edge technology, is a testament to our commitment to our Rotary ideals and the potential that this technology has for us.
Across the District, clubs have continued to provide critically needed student scholarships, delivered innovative service projects that have improved their communities, and continued their works on vital international projects. Clubs demonstrated innovation and grit as they scrambled to redesign and replace many long time, major fund raisers. Our members and clubs exceeded our goals for donations to the Rotary Foundation and to the Polio Plus program and 41 of our 57 clubs earned the Rotary International President’s Citation for exceptional clubs. A lot of good things happened in this incredibly challenging year.
As our world re-opens and our clubs resume meeting in person, Robin and I are excited to come to your clubs and meet with our amazing Rotarians and see the fruits of their incredible service projects. I am look forward to learning first-hand about your projects and issues so that we in District leadership have the best information and knowledge so that we can continue the work of improving and streamlining our District functions so that your clubs can achieve their greatest successes.
District leadership and I are committed to work with all of you to take the lessons of the last 16 months and combine them with the best of our traditions, to build a better Rotary experience for both our current and our future members. With the pandemic restrictions lessening, we, we intend to:
Restart, revise and improve.
- Youth Exchange
- Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
- Interact
- Rotary Learning Institute
- District Conference
Complete
- Creation of US tax recognized charitable arm to facilitate donations to Bob Winter fund and potentially other programs.
- Move Bob Winter fund to an appropriate Community Foundation.
- Move District reserves to a conservative investment fund.
- Implement “People with Purpose” Public Image and Marketing campaign
- Update and roll-out District 5060 Multi-year Plan
- Youth Protection data system
Develop
- A membership strategy integrated with the People with Purpose campaign.
- New Environmental Area of Focus
- Appropriate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) activities
- District Conference policy and strategy
Continue
- Strategic Assistance
- Quarterly Business meetings
- Past District Governor’s Council
- District Virtual Chat sessions
- Club Spring Training Experience
- The TRF Grant Programs
I am extraordinarily proud of the Rotarians in this District that have done so much to make Rotary exceptional in District 5060. Thank you and look forward to our service together in 2021 -2022.
Richard DeRock
Click 'READ MORE' to read DG Richard's message for his firs year as governor.
Richard DeRock and Robin
