July 1 began the Rotary New Year with the appropriate theme Rotary Opens Opportunities.
Rotary International President Holger Knaack introduced his theme in January at International Assembly for Rotary year 2020-21 as “Rotary Opens Opportunities”He said “Rotary is not just a club that you join. It is an invitation to endless opportunities. It opens opportunities to serve in a project as big as END POLIO NOW and also in a small community project where you plant a tree. Everything we do opens another opportunity for someone somewhere.”
At International Assembly, the District Governor Elects were asked to convey to their clubs the message that Rotary Opens Opportunities.
Such opportunities are to:
1) Create new, innovative club models, to help expand outreach by creating a satellite club or a community based Rotaract Club
2) Ensure that each club have at least one strategic meeting- asking “What should our Club look like in 5 years and what steps should we take to achieve this vision? What value do we bring our members?
3) Select new members carefully. Make sure they are a good fit with your club and that the club meets their expectations. Engage them and take care of them
4) Continue your clubs efforts to end polio by donating to END POLIO NOW. We must fulfill our promise that we made to the children of the world.
It is now 6 months since International Assembly. Our lives have changed but the goal to “open opportunities” has not.
We are Rotarians and must remain optimistic, and continue to seek opportunities to engage members, grow Rotary membership, fundraise and perform service projects.
Rotary clubs who are able to embrace change and enthusiastically support opportunities will come out stronger than before.
For those of you who missed or would like to re watch the first virtual District 7120 Change Over Celebration that was held on June 27, the link to watch the recording is up on the penfieldrotary.org website.
Many people have remarked about wanting to listen again to the interesting and inspiring remarks by Immediate Past Rotary International Director Jeffry Cadorette.
I want to thank my amazing home club and its members for hosting and participating in the District Change Over Celebration.
As I begin my year as District Governor, I am attending in person club meetings as well as continuing to meet with clubs on Zoom.
My plan is to have my official District Governor visits with the clubs by Area on Zoom this summer. During these uncertain times, I believe it is in the best interest of clubs to meet together and share their club status and their ideas for new opportunities. However, we need to be flexible. I am open to attend in person meetings/activities of our District Rotary Clubs.
In conclusion, I look forward to this challenging New Year as District Governor and working with you to open opportunities.
Yours in Rotary,
DG Linda
District Governor 2020-2021
Rotary District 7120