Fair Lawn Sunrise Rotary Club

Governor Honey had the honor of being the District's first female Governor, and had the added distinction of being the daughter of Past District Governor, Jack Rosen, which made them the first parent child team to serve as Governors in our District, and only the second father daughter team to serve in Rotary International.

The Rotary International President for the year was Jim Lacy from Cooksville, Tennessee and his theme was "Follow your Rotary Dream" The International Convention was held in Singapore this year

Governor Honey's key staff members were Joe Dino as her Secretary, George Loewenstein her Treasurer, and Emil Geering as her Chief of Staff. Governor Honey added to her key staff members an outstanding staff to help her with her goal to build harmony and cooperation within the District. This resulted in her District theme, which was "Governing by the Clubs, For the Clubs."

The District events for the year included the annual New Jersey Vocational Assembly at the Birchwood Manor, the Gift of Life Celebration at the Brownstone, President's Night, a unique experience as a cruise around Manhattan on the Spirit of New Jersey, and the Walter Head Golf Outing at Apple Ridge Country Club. The highlight of the year was the District Conference held in beautiful Marbella, Spain, which was attended by over 400 Rotarians and guests and had the participation of two Rotary Clubs from Marbella in the event.

Governor Honey held a Preserve Planet Earth tree-planting program, and combined it with a ceremony where awards were presented to awardees from the three countries of our District for their environmental efforts.

Really noteworthy was the completion of a number of outstanding International projects during the year. They were the providing of a matching grant with a District in Brazil to build a playground for a school for the blind; the raising of funds for the Polio Plus fund to allow our District to sponsor a National Immunization Day in India; and the collection and sending of $75,000 worth of antibiotics to a hospital in Comyagua, Honduras to help victims of hurricane Mitch. This project included the sending of a container of clothing, toiletries and household items to the area and the obtaining and sending an X-ray and a Mammography machine also to a hospital in the area. The x -ray machine replaced a machine in the hospital manufactured in 1944 and the Mammography machine was the first to be used at the hospital.

Support continued this year for the Rotary Foundation, where the District goal for the year was exceeded both for general giving and the Polio Plus special funds. Support also continued for the Walter Head Foundation, the Gift of Life program, and the Youth Exchange program for the year, but also of importance was the moving by Governor Honey of the annual RYLA program to Camp Brynmar in Pennsylvania. This offered larger facilities and greater flexibility for the Conference staff. The District also had a most successful Interact Conference at Ramapo High School hosting 232 attendees.

Governor Honey had a symbol for her very active year and it was a smiling face. Governor Honey made it her goal to have Rotary be fun for our members at the same time they followed their "Rotary Dream". She has added in passing that she was overwhelmed by the support of every club in the District for her goals for the year, and also it made for the most memorable year of her life.

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

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