Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and Friends of Rotary,

                As I made my official club visits throughout our district in the first half of our Rotary year, I gave each club a financial incentive to be creative with an education and literacy initiative in their community, along with a request to each club president to report back to me by April 1 regarding the application of those funds.  I have begun to receive these reports, and I look forward to presenting this information at the District Conference in May.  (Newark Rotary’s District Conference Committee is planning a very informative and entertaining event.  Registration will open soon, and I will email you when that goes “live.”)

                The education and literacy initiative was put in perspective as I read the February issue of The Rotarian magazine.  The articles inform about  The Rotary Foundation’s Peace Building efforts in Rwanda over the past 25 years.  I encourage you to read those articles, but a key point is that education and literacy efforts cannot succeed without a peaceful environment.  We are indeed fortunate, despite our diverse opinions on so many cultural and political issues, that we live in a peaceful society where education and literacy can be promoted effectively. 

                Each Rotarian’s contributions, through club activities and The Rotary Foundation, are effective and efficient ways to promote peace and enhance literacy.  I encourage everyone to learn more about these opportunities at the following events:

Your “Service Above Self” is not likely to involve travel to the war-torn areas of the world, but Rotary supports people who make those trips.  You can support these projects by contributing to the annual fund of The Rotary Foundation.  Be part of “Every Rotarian, Every Year,” “Sustaining Member,” or “Paul Harris Society,” as your means allow.  Your impact on Peace and Literacy will be greater than you can imagine.  Write your check today, to “The Rotary Foundation,” and give it to your club’s foundation chair or president.   

                 

DG Dave Hannan

  

YOUTH EXCHANGE: THE FUTURE OF ROTARY

               

Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and Friends of Rotary,

                In December I completed my official club presentations by meeting with the Sodus and Livonia Rotary Clubs.  That completed 69 Rotary Clubs in just over 5 months, and it was a most enjoyable experience to see the variation among clubs and communities while recognizing the similarities within the mission of “Service Above Self.”  It was also my pleasure to attend holiday parties with Livonia, Sodus, and a joint event with Ontario-Walworth and Gananda; new member induction ceremonies at Rochester Southwest and Newark; Paul Harris Fellow recognition ceremonies in Greece, Newark, Ontario-Walworth, and Gananda; fundraising events for Canandaigua and Rochester, both involving the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra; and district meetings of the Governors Tract and the Milt Matthews District Governor-Elect Hospitality Program.

                On February 23 we will mark the 115^th anniversary of Rotary’s founding by Paul Harris in Chicago.  Could he even remotely envision then where we would be today?  However, he did live to see Rotary become an international service organization that was growing exponentially.  We can all wonder where Rotary will evolve in our lifetimes and those of our children and grandchildren.

                In that regard, one of the greatest opportunities before us is the ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM.  The beneficiaries of this program are not just the students, but the host families, the host Rotary clubs, the school districts, the communities, and peacebuilding in the world at large.  I refer you to page 39 of the January 2020 issue of The Rotarian.  In the annual section, “What It’s Like To…,” there is an article titled, “Host Two Generations of Youth Exchange Students,” by my friends 7150 District Governor Randy Wilson and Sauquoit Rotarian Janet Wilson.  Years ago, they hosted an exchange student from India, and then years later they hosted his daughter.  It is a remarkable story, which they close saying, “If you agree to host a student from a foreign country for several months in your home, you will host them in your heart for the rest of your lives.”

                I ask each of you Rotarians to market this program within your communities and your school districts.  We need students from our district to apply to go outbound for a year, and we need families in our communities to host inbound students.  I hope every club will adopt this program part of their strategic plan.  This is not a simple project, but the rewards are lifelong.  If this will be new for your Rotary club, let’s get started now!  District 7120 has devoted Youth Exchange Committee members willing to meet with you.

                 

DG Dave Hannan

It is with great pleasure I announce that the District Nominating Committee has interviewed and chosen Ralph Brandt of the Rotary Club of Bloomfield, New York as the District Governor Nominee Designate. Ralph has graciously accepted the invitation to serve and has already begun her training as a member of the DG Track to serve as District Governor in the Rotary year 2022-2023.

 

Since joining the Bloomfield Rotary Club in 1991, he has served as  3 terms as President and 2 half-year terms. His Rotary career includes serving as Treasurer and Secretary and as a Board member for 27 years. More recently, Ralph has also served as the Assistant Governor for Area 5 for 3 years.

 

He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and recipient of many club awards. Ralph has also been on the Board of RL (Rotary-Lions) Concessions for 28 years.

Rotary International President 2019-2020 Mark Daniel Maloney, from Decatur, AL, USA, introduced his theme for this Rotary year, “Rotary Connects the World,” in January while I was at the Rotary International Assembly for District Governors-Elect. 

 

Reflecting on that theme, I have asked myself, “What does that mean to the ‘rank and file’ Rotarian?”

 

Obviously, Rotary international leaders are traveling the globe and connecting, and club members who are active in The Rotary Foundation Global Grants process are connecting, but what about the rest of us?