DG Rebecca's July 2012 Message
Happy New Rotary Year!
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Welcome to the New Rotary Year 2012-2013!
The New Year brings with it a new team in Rotary. The most important position is your Club President, please give them all your goodwill and support for the next 12 months and make it the most enjoyable year they have had in Rotary.
It also brings Sakuji Tanaka as Rotary International's 102nd President. I had the pleasure of meeting RI President Tanaka and his wife Kyoko in January at the International Assembly.
Tanaka encouraged Rotarians to help Rotary reach its potential by finishing the job of polio eradication and using the organization's strengths to enhance its ability to "do good in the world."
He said Rotarians share a responsibility to make Rotary clubs stronger by attracting quality members and ensuring that every club meeting is productive and meaningful.
He also called upon clubs to make an action plan to bring in younger members. "We need to stop talking about this. Instead, why don't we just do it!" he said.
His chosen Theme is “Peace Through Service" I would ask you all to base your Rotary activities on it throughout this coming year.
He asked us to understand that peace, in all of the ways that we can understand it, is a real and a realistic goal for Rotary. Peace is not something that can only be achieved through agreements by governments or through heroic struggles. It is something we can find and achieve every day, and in many simple ways. And so, I ask you to commit to a Rotary year of ”Peace Through Service” — and a Rotary goal for a more peaceful world.
I am sure you will also welcome all our District Officers taking new posts and wish them all an enjoyable year. I encourage you to use these Officers in particular your Assistant Governor. They are all there to assist you in making your club a “Vibrant Club”.
I also want to thank the Officers who have served our Clubs and District during the past year and none more deserving of a well-earned rest is PDG Hans and Carol-Ann. Ted & I wish you all the best in whatever your Rotary direction takes you.
I have always believed that first of all Rotary must be enjoyed by all club members - that means all Rotary meetings and events should be fun. This will be our objective at Quesnel for the District Conference May 17th to 20th 2013. Make sure you mark that date now in your diary.
We need to let others know what Rotary is doing in our communities. As I travel around the district you will hear me talk about telling “Your Rotary Story” . I ask you to share your stories about what Rotary means to you and why you are a Rotarian. Do you talk about this and about what Rotary does in your community and around the world to your family, friends and co-workers?
I also ask you to share with non-Rotarians what the Rotary Foundation does and encourage each of you to support our foundation this year.
July and August are considered quiet months in the Rotary calendar, however Clubs should be focusing on Membership and Extension in August and New Generations in September. Both these areas are very important to all Clubs so please give them some thought and planning now, well before time for action in those months.
The more all members get involved in projects the more you will all enjoy being a Rotarian so please don't stand back and leave it to others. Be active and have fun!
Official visits will start with Prince George in July. This Club was the sponsor club of my home club, The Rotary Club of Quesnel so without them I would not belong to such a wonderful club.
I wish you all a wonderful Rotary year. I am looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones as Ted & I travel around the District.
Til next month,
DG Rebecca