What an Opportunity…

Posted by Drew Kessler, Director Elect
I have used this platform to write about silver linings to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic many times over the past year.  In the September edition of this report, I shared that since my role of Director Nominee was made official, I and my fellow Director classmates have been granted access to the Rotary International Board earlier than any class before us.  Traditionally an “Elect” attends their first in-person meeting in January of their elect year however access has been granted much earlier due to the Board meetings being held online.  What used to be four annual Board Meetings has turned into monthly meetings and for the first time since the onset of COVID-19 the Rotary International Board of Directors met in person from 15-17 November in Evanston, Illinois.  Fourteen of the seventeen Directors were able to attend in person, and the meeting was a true hybrid as each Board member had a screen in front of them to be both in person and on Zoom at the same time. 
As someone who was not in person, the meeting was run flawlessly allowing for both interaction and interpretation for those who were in Evanston and for those accessing the meeting remotely.  How fortunate are we as a society and as an organization to have the technology we do?  What most likely could not even have been imagined just a decade ago is commonplace today.  I marvel at what may be possible a decade from now. 
 
During this meeting one of the agenda items was the selections for the four Rotary Foundation Trustee seats expiring at the end of the Rotary year and it was with much excitement and joy to be present (albeit online) when our very own Marty Peak-Helman was selected to serve as a Foundation Trustee for the coming three Rotary years.  This selection could not be awarded to a better Rotarian.  Marty has worked tirelessly in the name of the Foundation for years and I look forward to all she and her fellow Trustees will accomplish in the coming years.  Personally, I am so looking forward to partnering with two amazing individuals from our Zones next year when both current Trustee Dean Rohrs and Trustee Elect Marty serve together for a year.  This continues to show how fortunate we all are to have such leaders within our midst.
 
The next in-person meeting will be held in conjunction with the International Assembly this coming January in Orlando, Florida which, if all stays as is in relation to COVID-19 or improves, the Assembly and Board Meeting will both be in person and will be my first opportunity to attend in my current role.  I am looking forward to joining Rotarians from all around the world in what is one of the top Rotary events of the year.  For those District Governors Elect reading this column and plan on attending, I look forward to being with you.
 
As I noted the opportunity provided to me as a silver lining has been nothing short of amazing and as we begin to return to pre COVID life, I can only hope that opportunities like providing access to leaders earlier on their path via hybrid platforms continues.  From the Club, District, or International levels there are lessons to be learned and procedures to maintain to allow access that would otherwise not be provided.