Posted by Frank Adamson

GOVERNOR'S FEBRUARY MESSAGE

 
Welcome to 2021 and thanks for hanging in! I and the District Governor Chain - Anne, Lisa, and Scott are impressed with the good work being done by fellow Rotarians/Rotaractors and their Clubs. 
 
Much planning has been done under the leadership of Lisa and PDG Melisa Schrock and their Team on the District Conference, which is highlighted in Lisa’s Report.  They have a great line-up of speakers and even though this will be another Zoom virtual event it is going to be a phenomenal and FREE event held over two evenings and a Saturday morning 16th, 18th and 20th March.  PLEASE book this into your calendars now.
 
Anne has a great message this month, which among other things recommends that clubs collaborate with neighbouring clubs and get out and do a service project.  She mentions the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup and Blood Donor Clinics as examples.  Please start to plan for a waterway in your club’s vicinity that you can clean up and look to partner with another club, with a Rotaract or Interact Club, a Church, Conservation Authority, Parks Department, etc.  There is much more information in the article by Lisa and myself.  Feel free to reach out to either one of us for information, ideas, or suggestions.  So pick a day(s) between Saturday, April 17th, and Saturday, April 24th to do your bit along with thousands of volunteers from both countries.
 
 
Little Lending Libraries are another great service project and a part of the Conference.  Margaret Andrewes will be providing construction plans.  See DGND Scott’s LLL in Anne’s article. Scott suggests going to Habitat for Humanity or a lumberyard for scrap wood to decrease costs.  We will profile pictures of these at the conference and we will provide 2 books by speaker Michael Jacques for your library.
 
The Public Image Committee has been promoting the Club Website Refresh Initiative, which is underway.  Clubs that have taken advantage of this FREE service are raving about the results.  But 29 of our 66 Clubs have not yet registered to take advantage of this.  If you are one of these, PLEASE log onto our District 7090 site and click the tab on the top left of the page, and register.  Rotarian Melissa Wells from the Welland Club will work with you to create an inspiring web page (and show you how to maintain it).
 
A big shout-out to Glen Christensen and his Rotary Leadership Institute Team for rolling out RLI virtually.  The uptake in registration is wonderful with many classes fully booked.  Sessions are planned throughout the rest of this Rotary year.  And the cost is much reduced!  I would highly recommend any Rotarian/Rotaractor to register.
 
Foundation giving continues to decline and this has grave consequences, as these are the funds that support District and Global Grants, scholarships, VTT, and more.  I am challenging every club member to consider continuing as, or moving up to Sustaining Member status with a $100 (USD) donation to the Annual Fund.  If we all took this amount from meal monies saved since March we would be in terrific shape.  Remember, The Rotary Foundation is OUR Charity and needs our support.  And you receive a charitable tax receipt!  Pat Castiglia and her Team are here to answer questions about the different ways that you can participate in Foundation giving.
 
Lastly, Holger Knaack just announced that the RI Conference in Tapei, Taiwan has been canceled as an in-person gathering.  Plans are afoot to do it virtually, which will allow greater participation.  We only had 6 registered but I believe many more will sign up for the virtual event at a much-reduced cost.
 
Take Care, Be Safe, Stay Positive. 
We will eventually CRUSH COVID.
 
Yours in Rotary Service,
Frank Adamson
Governor, 7090
Proud Member of the Rotary Club of Fonthill, Ontario