District 6420 Vice-Governor Steve Kuhn assembled outgoing and incoming executives for a full briefing on the past year’s achievements and the coming year’s opportunities at the club’s June 3 Zoom meeting. Here is a summary of their remarks:
Immediate Past District Governor and Foundation Chair Kathy Kwiat-Hess – Rotarians have until the end of the month to make charitable donations for the current fiscal year. She explained the work of the three Foundation funds: The Annual Fund; Polio Plus; and the Disaster Relief Fund.
District Governor Bobbi Burke – With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, she went from “driving” to “zooming” as a means of communicating with district clubs. She said it definitely was a time to “think outside the box”. She optimistically encouraged club members to not dwell on events that were lost but to think forward on what can happen by incorporating newly used technology into club events in the future.
District Governor Elect Tom Brooks – The future will probably include a hybrid of traditional meetings and virtual meetings. Plans for his installation banquet are still under development considering COVID-19 restrictions. He noted that youth exchange programs are cancelled, but did point out that the International Convention will be held on-line June 20-26, allowing greater engagement of the entire worldwide Rotary membership (details at www.rotary.org).
District Governor Nominee David Bills – He will be training new club officers when he succeeds Tom Brooks as Governor Elect. He has been a Rotarian for 20 years and had a 42-year career in education, the last 18 as a school district superintendent. He is a member of the River Cities Club whose members come from five towns along the Mississippi River in northern Rock Island County.
District Governor Nominee Designate Laura Kann – Laura came to the Princeton Club five years ago from Atlanta to help with care for her mother. This followed a 30-year career with the Centers for Disease Control. She has been District grant chair and she encouraged Sycamore Rotarians to consider undertaking a service project that would qualify for a Rotary grant.
As new officers prepare to assume duties at the end of the month, it was announced that Steve Kuhn will become district treasurer, succeeding Bob Hammon.