Jersey City Rotary Club

"Rotary 2000: Act with Consistency, Credibility, and Continuity" was the theme of Rotary International for the year under the leadership of President Carlos Ravizza of Milan, Italy and Switzerland, as we prepared to enter the new millennium. Governor Ken planned and executed a very active program during the year truly in the spirit of this theme, as he added his District theme of "Let Us Renew the Spirit and Live Rotary"

The year's objective in both the world and in our District was to continue the programs already underway, and to improve upon them. One of the first innovations in Governor Ken's year was to enroll our District into the Rotary Leadership Institute. Our entry completed the participation of all of the five Districts in our state in the program. Since that time 30 of the 32 Districts in Zones 31 and 32 have joined the program, which has become one that is recognized throughout the Rotary world as an outstanding program. Both Governor Ken and First Lady Ruth have participated in the program as group discussion leaders.

Our District was again the victim of flooding as it was in 1984 when Hurricane Floyd did considerable damage in our District area. Our clubs and individual Rotarians again responded to the call and provided funds to assist those affected. Our District also at the same time contributed to the worldwide disaster relief program to assist the victims of a major earthquake in Turkey. Both were examples of Rotary in action.

Governor Ken's key staff members were Bill Kelley as his Secretary, George Loewenstein as his Treasurer, and Bob Kilroy as his Chief Governor's Rep.

District activities for the year included the hosting by our District of the annual New Jersey Vocational Assembly at the Birchwood Manor, where over 500 Rotarians and guests attended the event and heard PRIP Glen Kinross along with others make presentations. Other activities were the Gift of Life Celebration, the Walter Head Golf Outing, and the President's Ball, held for the first time at the Rockleigh County Club, and the first Multi-District PETS training session.

Added activities were a joint Rotary Foundation Dinner held with District #7470 where over $7000 was raised for the Foundation, and the highlight of the year, which was the District Conference held at Las Vegas, Nevada. The Rotary International Convention was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The District was honored by the serving of PRID Carmine Torsiello as a trustee of the Rotary Foundation, and Glenda Campanola of the Paramus Club receiving the Rotary International Service Above Self Award.

Also in this busy Rotary year, a Group Study exchange was held with District #1650 in France, which was a wonderful experience for those who participated. Rotary Foundation support was emphasized during the year with 354 club members becoming sustaining members of the Foundation. Two other outstanding events were the award to the Hawthorne Club of a Children's Opportunity Grant of $25,000 from the Rotary Foundation for the building of a handicapped park in Passaic County. Also with designated Funds we were able to assist a District in Brazil to complete the project started in the previous year to build a playground for a school for the blind in that country.

It was truly a year where our District members, "Renewed the Spirit and Lived Rotary" and acted with "Consistency, Credibility, and Continuity."

Questions or looking for more information please contact district7490rotary@gmail.com

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