Dear Fellow Rotarians,
You’ve heard Rotary described as an organization where leaders gather together to share ideas and take action.I’ve been reflecting on how effectively Rotary does deliver on that leadership promise! We are both an organization of leaders, and an organization that develops leaders.
Our incoming club leaders, our Presidents-elect, embraced their role by attending PETS in mid-February. In April they are bringing their own Club Leadership Teams to the Club Leadership Academy to build skills and prepare for the coming year. Thanks to District Leadership Development Chair David Simmer and his super team: Angel Aguirre, Ted Haynes, Denice Heintz and Ali Rodriguez. They’ve built and delivered exceptional development opportunities to ensure we Rotarians have the Leadership training and resources we need to reach our potential.
I am awed by the number of Rotary club members who are stepping up as leaders to personally get involved in organizing new Rotary Clubs and Satellite Clubs. It is happening all across our geographically diverse District. These leaders have passion and desire to be catalysts for four new clubs! And, yes, they are working with community leaders interested in becoming Rotarians.
We attract and develop Youth Leaders, too! I think of 16 year-old Loralli Johnson who has the ability, poise, confidence and grace to serve as Interact District Governor—with a District of well over 90 clubs! I think of high school senior Dylan Boyd whose resume includes serving as an Interact Area Governor, a RYLA Junior Counselor and a member of the team of Interact Ambassadors to Africa last summer. Last week Dylan tweeted a positive message about Rotary’s work that ‘went viral.’ At last count 2.5 million people had viewed it and it has stimulated over $13,000 in donations to the Crutches 4 Africa project—and it’s still climbing. In a short time the many Dylans and Lorallis of our Interact clubs will be the leaders of our communities, our country and our world!
Finally, a special shout-out to our Resources & Support leaders (also known as Committee Chairs). Too many to list here, their support ranges from our treasury to our Facebook page, from management of our finances to management of our Youth Exchange logistics. Because these Rotarians volunteer to provide resources, run programs and organize events, we are all stronger and better able to follow our own Rotary passions!
Did you know that registration is now open for our District Conference at the beautiful Wigwam Resort in Litchfield Park on June 1 and 2? Visit the Conference site to learn more about the rewarding program and 1st class conference experience that the team of conference committee leaders has planned for you! A tip: Register early and you’ll get more chances to win prizes at the conference where we will truly Celebrate Rotary. And, notice that this year we have a first: a one-day Pre-conference on May 31. It will be open to the community and features an impressive lineup of speakers on “Pursuing Peace.”
Enjoy a wonderful month,
