David Bills, District Governor, shares the successes and challenges within District 6420.
With Paul Stromborg at his side, District Governor David Bills poses with the beautiful Louisville Slugger baseball bat with Rotary branding to be awarded to the District 6420 club which wins this year's "World Series of Giving" Rotary foundation campaign.
Rotary District Governor David Bills shared his goals and objectives with Sycamore Rotarians at this week’s meeting. Bills is a member of the River Cities club from northern Rock Island County which includes six small river towns (five on the Mississippi and one on the Rock). He spent 42 years as an educator, coach, administrator, and school superintendent. He said he is spent five years getting ready for his District Governor term but never expected to be doing Zoom meetings rather than face-to-face meetings for his final training.
Bills gave an overview of Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta’s “service above self” approach to making an impact in his native India. This included expanding hospital care as well as his club’s membership (going from about 100 to more than 1,000). Educational opportunities for young girls are also a priority for Mehta. As International President, his priorities are:
Adding 100,000 new members to Rotary (the “Each One Bring One” campaign)
Growing service activities (do more to grow more)
More education for young girls (worldwide only 36% of young girls have access to more than an elementary education)
End Polio (as of January only one case was found in Pakistan but recent turmoil in Afghanistan may be cause for alarm)
Protect the environment.
Bills said that financially District 6420 is healthy because of two years without any conferences or assemblies. However, membership is falling from its traditional 2,000 level to a current 1,487 Rotarians as of July 1. Bills wants everyone to work aggressively to change that membership curve because it negatively impacts community service and foundation support. Regarding the Rotary Foundation, Bills and his team have created a “World Series of Giving” to promote friendly club competition. Divisions have been created within the District and clubs will be ranked by aggregate per capita giving to the Annual Fund and PolioPlus. The winning club in each division receives a specially made Louisville Slugger bat (which Bills passed around for club members to see). The overall winning club receives an award yet to be determined. Bills also said he will oversee creation of a five-year strategic plan for the District to build momentum for the future rather than have future District Governors beginning each year with only a 12-month development window. He also announced plans for an in-person District Conference being planned for the Quad Cities with high-level environmental speakers being lined up. Save the dates from April 29 – May 1 on your calendar.
Posted by David Bills, District 6420 Governor on Sep 13, 2021
Dear Rotary Club Presidents, Club Secretaries, and All District 6420 Rotarians,
It is time for our clubs to consider nominating a Rotarian to serve as Governor for Rotary District 6420 for the 2024-25 Rotary year.
The qualifications to become Governor include being a member in good standing of a club in good standing, serving at least one full term as a club president, and being available in person to meet with the Nominating Committee on the date set by that committee. That interview date is tentatively set for Saturday, December 4, 2021.
The successful candidate will join the Governor Line, serving as the District Governor Nominee Designate in the second half of the 2021-22 Rotary year, District Governor Nominee in 2022-23, District Governor Elect in 2023-24, and District Governor in 2024-25.
There is an expectation that a Past District Governor will continue to serve the District in some leadership position for at least two years following the Governor year. A high-quality Governor training program is provided by Zone, Region, and Rotary International personnel.
A prospective candidate should contact me or any past Governor with any questions.
Each club is eligible to nominate one candidate, and the club must sign off on their full support for their candidate. Official nomination forms are available by contacting me. Also, the nomination forms need to be returned to me by the deadline for nominations which is Monday, November 15, 2021. Candidates will be contacted to set up interviews following the deadline.
PLEASE MAKE THIS INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO ALL YOUR MEMBERS.
Feel free to contact me with any questions, or for more information.
Donations are currently being requested for the Sycamore Food Pantry. Bring a bottle of laundry detergent...or $10 for Julie Sgarlata to purchase one. Money is easier to handle.
Personal hygiene items (bar soap, shampoo, etc.) are also being sought.
September 13, 1851 – American Army physician Walter Reed (best known for his yellow fever research) is born in Gloucester County, Virginia.
September 13, 1860 – U.S. Army General John J. Pershing is born in Laclede, Missouri.
September 15, 1857 – William Howard Taft, who served as 27th President of the United States and later became 10th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, is born in Cincinnati, Ohio.
September 15, 1890 - Best-selling fiction writer of all time, Agatha Christie, is born in Torquay, England.
September 13, 1814 – The Battle of Fort Henry in Baltimore Harbor occurred and was observed by Francis Scott Key. He was inspired to write the now-famous verse for our National Anthem after seeing the American flag still flying over the fort following a night of British attack.
September 14, 1741 – Composer George Frederick Handel finishes the “Messiah” after working on it nonstop for 23 days.
September 15, 1916 – Tanks are first used in combat during the Allied offensive at the Battle of the Somme in World War I.
September 18, 1947 – The U. S. Air Force is established as a separate military service.
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