JUNE DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S NEWSLETTER

     My year as District Governor has past so swiftly with only a few days remaining before I turn over the reins to DGE Kathy Kwiat-Hess.  It is difficult to fully appreciate the role of being the DG until you are actually there and

then one should “carpe diem”.  I have had many of those days.  Most enjoyable were the days I was out with the clubs interacting with their member Rotarians.   Certainly good friendships were made and many humorous events occurred that I will remember fondly.   Again, high points during the year were the times I spent with the clubs, District Conference, Zone meeting, RI International Convention, a special diplomatic reception at RI headquarters, plus many other events.

So what did we all do together as it is most certainly a team effort. 

     Membership is up and I am confident that we will not lose too many members when the clubs scrub their membership rolls.  Looking for a plus growth in the district, the first time in past 10 years+.

    Foundation giving is up.  Final figures not in yet but there were more clubs giving to the Polio Plus campaign than anytime in the past five years.  Per capita for the Annual Fund is the third highest in the recent history and continues to grow.  

    There are two more satellite clubs in the district, two more Interact Clubs, and one Rotaract Club this year.

     How many trees did the clubs plant..lots and lots.  Over 17,300 community service hours have been logged with more to be added.  District 6420 Rotarians do make a difference!

I am especially proud of the eight clubs who already have earned an RI Presidential Citation.  They include in alphabetical order the following clubs:  Galena Rotary Club, Putnam County Rotary Club, Rock Falls Rotary Club, Sycamore Rotary Club, Toluca Rotary Club, Twin Cities Rotary Club, Twin Rivers RAH Rotary Club, and the Walnut Rotary Club.  There are several more clubs that are ever so close to obtaining this award   Remember deadline is June 30th.  Please contact me if you have any questions concerning the award. 

     In July I will be the Immediate Past District Governor and will continue on to serve as a member on the District 6420 Corporate Board.   I will be the risk manager and will encourage clubs to incorporate and educate on the use of the RI insurance.   Please feel free to contact me on these issues.  I have full confidence in Kathy taking over as DG on July 1st and will serve her and the district to the best of my abilities. 

 

Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio worldwide won Best Nonprofit Act in the Hero Awards of the One Billion Acts of Peace campaign, an international global citizens’ movement to tackle the world’s most important issues.

 

The campaign is an initiative of PeacejJam Foundation and is led by 14 Nobel Peace laureates, including the Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, and Rigoberta Mencu tum, with the ambitious goal of inspiring a billion acts of peace by 2020.

 

Each year, the campaign picks two finalists in each of six categories for their work to make a measurable impact in one of the 10 areas considered most important by the Nobel laureates.  Winners are chosen by people from around the world.  

 

Rotary and Mercy Corps were the two finalists in the Best Nonprofit Act category.  Rotary and the five other winners will be recognized at a ceremony on June in Monaco.  Betty Williams, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977 for her advocacy for peace in Northern Ireland will present the award.  

 

We all should be proud to be a Rotarian!  You are People of Action and Make A Difference in the world.  Thank you