Rotary International recently released some figures that back up the claim that Rotarians are “People of Action.” With more than 1.2 million members, Rotarians transformed communities on a worldwide basis by volunteering approximately 47 million hours last year. In addition to our time and talents, The Rotary Foundation was able to award $291 million for sustainable global service initiatives during the 2023-24 year. As a CPA, I believe that these impressive figures back up the claims that Rotarians work hard to make the world a better place. Beyond the quantitative numbers, I see evidence of our value and good deeds in every community that hosts a Rotary club.
Earlier this year, Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick referred to Rotarians as “Simply Irresistible.” I have personally witnessed dozens of “Simply Irresistible” Rotarians during my District Governor visits so far. Your work with and through Rotary is literally transforming communities and making our District a better place to live.
This month I have a simple ask for you. Please do something intentional in October as a “Person of Action” to further one of the many great causes of Rotary. Personally, I will be celebrating World Polio Day on October 24th at a Pickleball Tournament which is being organized by several of the clubs in the Greater La Crosse area. As you might imagine, there will be prizes and awards for the various competitive divisions. I am opting to attend the event as a spectator with plans to raise a pint to the eradication of Polio while cheering on my fellow Rotarians.
Finally, I want to be sure that three key dates are circled on your calendar.
- Vibrant Club Workshop – November 9th in Tomah, WI. ALL Rotarians are invited.
- District Conference – TriCon, our combined three district conference, will be held in April 25-26, 2025, in Brookfield, WI. ALL Rotarians are invited.
- Rotary International Convention - June 21-25, 2025, in Calgary, Canada. ALL Rotarians are invited.
I hope to see you all there.
Respectfully,
Todd Restel
District Governor 6250