DG BOB'S JANUARY MESSAGE
First and foremost, Happy New Year to each of you and my very best wishes for the latter half of this Rotary year. As for me, I’m just getting my stride and it is so exhilarating. If I were running in a marathon with the baton for the final lap, I’d have enough reserved energy to go another lap, maybe two, but in Rotary, that’s not possible. DGE Frank will be taking the baton for the last lap and I couldn’t be prouder. By the time you read this article, DGE Frank and Judy will have either gone to San Diego for the International Assembly or have just returned.
WOW! On January 1, 2020, we began the decade of the twenties and I can only imagine what Rotary will look like come 2030. But first, let’s take a walk down memory Lane. A quick flashback, I remember the year Sputnik was launched, October 4, 1957 @ 1928 hrs. I was 15 years old in the 11th grade thinking in 2000 I'll be 58 years old. That sounds so long ago and here we are 20 years past that date.
Let’s look back to the decade of the tweens to those District Governor who paved the way and carried us on their back:
- 2010/11 Karen Oakes (Wolf) the RC of Delhi - Building Communities Bridging Continents
- 2011/12 John Heise (Sandy) the RC of Holley - Reach Within to Embrace Humanity
- 2012/13 Rick Sterne (Jeanette) the RC of Brantford – Peace through Service
- 2013/14 Kevin Crouse (Rebecca) the RC of Brantford Sunrise – Engage Rotary Change Lives
- 2014/15 Jack Amico (Sam) the RC of West Seneca – Light Up Rotary
- 2015/16 Kevin Crosby (Nancy) the RC of Buffalo Sunrise - Be a gift to the World
- 2016/17 Marlee Diehl (Bill) the RC of Albion – Rotary Serving Humanity
- 2017/18 Reg Madison (Loretta) the RC of Brantford – Make a Difference
- 2018/19 Melisa Schrock (John) the RC of Akron – Be the Inspiration
We thank each of you and appreciate your dedication.
Entering the decade of the twenties, I am hopeful we would have eradicated polio from the face of the earth. What an accomplishment if in 2030 there was a quick flashback to the year 2020 and they could say, "WE DID THE IMPOSSIBLE". But for now, here’s an incredible woman, Thie Coventry, a passionate person about Polio eradication. So passionate that in 2010 she attempted to swim 52 miles across Lake Ontario to raise funds, but had to abort the swim due to swift currents. Thie believes so much in the cause that she issued a challenge; to match all Rotarians on a one-to-one basis up to $25K if the donation was made before December 31, 2019. This shows tremendous dedication to the cause.
This is the month for us to consider Rotary’s core values – and our own actions – influence public perceptions of Rotary. Rotary’s strategic plan outlines five core values that define and guide us as we chart a course into this decade of Service Above Self.
Service is our first value, as it should be. The focus of service is reflected in our primary motto, Service Above Self. We have the potential to create better, safer, and healthier communities, one project at a time.
Fellowship is the reason Rotary was founded over 100+ years ago. The friendship, the camaraderie, and the wonderful sense of doing something good together is what keeps us all looking forward to our Rotary meetings week after week or whenever your club meets.
Diversity is an aspect of Rotary that becomes more important with every passing year. Let us embrace diversity in gender, ethnicity, culture, and religion.
Integrity is fundamental to the organization’s identity. Every Rotarian is a guardian of the reputation that generations of Rotarians have worked to build. When we maintain the highest ethical standards in all of our dealings, we strengthen the trust that allows us to serve more effectively.
Leadership, the fifth, and final, core value. Each of us must remember, with our every action, that we are Rotarians. When we are chosen to become Rotarians, and when we choose to accept that honor, we take it upon ourselves to become representatives of the entire organization.
When we are known as Rotarians, then everything we do reflects upon all of us. Living by our core values and committing to Service Above Self, we build a stronger Rotary and a better world for all.
Now more about our CONNECTIONS: Richard Boyington, RC of Brantford Sunrise - please read more.
Hello District Governor Liza,
I hope this e-mail finds you in great health and happiness. I am sending you greetings from District 7090, which is the international United States of America and Canada combined district which includes the beautiful Niagara Falls. One of the projects of our district Governor Bob Artis is to have each club in the district reach out and connect with Rotary clubs across the world. This is a great way to show the meaning of this year's president's theme, "Rotary Connects the World".
Our district 7090 is unique because it is on the United States and Canada border and contains clubs from both countries. We have 68 clubs in our district. Our club is at the far northwest corner of the district in Brantford, Ontario.
There are two Rotary clubs in my city of Brantford and they are very active in our community. My Sunrise club meets early Wednesday mornings for breakfast. We currently have 38 members. We always have a good speaker at our weekly meetings, usually from one of our local charitable organizations or business enterprises. Each month the club organizes a social event and invites the other club to attend. It helps build relationships and goodwill. We share similar goals in serving our community. Each month our two clubs share in providing meals at the Why not Youth mission. This is an organization that provides a safe place and counseling for troubled teenage kids.
The Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise currently has three main events each year that we use to raise funds for our charitable causes. We hold a community fish fry in April where we serve perch, which is a well-known favorite fish from Lake Erie. We also participate in our local Canada's national birthday celebration on the first day of July. We have a large tent where we sell beer and other refreshments. The first of July is in the middle of our warmest weather. Our major fundraiser is our "Trip of the Month" raffle. Each November and December we sell tickets for the next year's draw. We only sell 999 tickets. Each month we select tickets to win a prize of a different trip to an exotic destination. There are also prizes for $100.00, $200.00, and $500.00. If you win a prize, your ticket returns to the pool for possibly winning again.
There are three main charities which we have recently supported. One is the Adult Recreational Therapy Centre. It provides programs and therapy for people with brain injuries or Alzheimer's disease. Another program is the Children's Imagination Library. Families can sign up their young children and each month they receive a child's book in the mail. It promotes literacy and bonding between the parent and child. The other main charity is Participation Support Services. They provide residential care for individuals with profound physical challenges.
It is a pleasure to share with you. Blessings to your district, club and your family!
Reply from District Governor Liza:
Dear President Richard:
Thank you so much for your email. This is a great idea of really connecting to the world.
I appreciate your taking time out to write me and I would like to say hello to your club and to your club members and of course to my classmate governor.
I currently have in my district 109 clubs with 3000 members and I handle 4 areas in my district with regards to geographical regions. The biggest which is the area of Manila which is the main city in the Philippines and Pasay, Cavite and Occidental Mindoro going to the southern part of Manila.
I belong to the Rotary Club of Manila Premier with 48 members and it may interest you to know that our Charter President is Senator Manny Pacquiao who is also a world boxing champion.
I hope one day you can come to Manila. Our District Convention is on March 20 and 21, 2020 and would be happy to have your club come and maybe become a friendship or a sister club of my own club. The president of my club now is President Essie Villavito. It would be good to meet you and your club members.
Several times, I had been to Toronto as I have 4 siblings who live there.
Looking forward to having the opportunity to meet you.
Thanks again and warm wishes.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Liza Elorde
District Governor
District 3810, Philippines