Rotarians of District 7120, we have completed our first month together focusing on International President Gordon’s theme of Creating Hope in the World, congratulations!
As I have traveled around the District, I have been reminded by you all, overand over of the “WHY” I joined Rotary. When you receive this edition of theGrapevine, I will have completed thirty-four out of our sixty-nine clubs! I could be going to clubs and focusing on things like the Foundation,Membership, Polio: everything that makes up Rotary. But I have chosen, instead, to share my reason for joining Rotary, in hopes that we all can reflect on our own “WHY” and get back to that. The last few years havebeen hard on all of us; young, old, middle aged, it does not matter, we have all been affected. We need to regroup and recharge our clubs and ourcommunities. Let us listen to each other and know that all of us bring something unique to the Rotary7120 table. Let us start sharing our experiences and being a part of the communities that we serve. Together, let us Create Hope for those we serve.
Just like our members, each club is unique and brings something different to our Rotary 7120 table. As times change, we sometimes start to get distracted and forget the “WHY” Rotary exists in our world, our community or in our hearts. For more than one hundred years, our guiding principles have been the foundation upon which our values and tradition stand; the Four-Way Test, Object of Rotary, and the Avenues of Service express our commitment to service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and
leadership in ourselves. When looking at our past, Rotary has certainly seen so many changes in the past 118 years. The demographics of our clubs have changed; technology has transformed how we meet, connect, and serve; the pace of change has accelerated beyond our imagination. But what has not changed is the need for help, the need for funding, the need for Service Above Self, the need for Hope! The need for Rotary!
leadership in ourselves. When looking at our past, Rotary has certainly seen so many changes in the past 118 years. The demographics of our clubs have changed; technology has transformed how we meet, connect, and serve; the pace of change has accelerated beyond our imagination. But what has not changed is the need for help, the need for funding, the need for Service Above Self, the need for Hope! The need for Rotary!
As Rotary continues to evolve, I ask that you all remember this: We are an organization open to all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political preference. We are like-minded individuals, like-minded not in all our thoughts and beliefs, but in our desire to make the world a better place; our desire to help those in need; our desire to Create Hope in the World. On a personal note, with regards to this, I will not tolerate people in our organization, who in their minds, are not open to, or will not accept, all people regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, or political
preference. We do not have to agree, we just need to accept and include. I look forward to getting out to visit the rest of our clubs and delivering Gordon’s message and sharing my story with the district. Together, let us Create Hope in the World!
preference. We do not have to agree, we just need to accept and include. I look forward to getting out to visit the rest of our clubs and delivering Gordon’s message and sharing my story with the district. Together, let us Create Hope in the World!
DG Julie M. Carney
Rotary District 7120
District Governor 2023-2024