Happy Holidays my friends! Happy Hanukkah for my Jewish friends beginning on December 10. Happy Kwanza (‘first fruits in Swahili) beginning on December 26. For my British and Canadian friends, Boxing Day greetings to all of you on December 26th as well. New Years Eve is an “unofficial” holiday for many, likely as celebrated as New Years Day the next morning. And for my extended Youth Exchange family in Japan, I wish you a wonderful Omisoka on December 31st as well.
People step more lively. We find ourselves more often in a state of gratitude – it is a season to receive and recognize the gifts all around us. Allow me to celebrate each of you – and your gifts to our beloved organization, Rotary International.
You provide Rotary the gift of your energy and effort. I am grateful for your ideas. For your ability to embrace the environment that we find ourselves navigating. Your gathering remotely and keeping sprits bright in fellowship.
You provide Rotary the gift of your talents. I am grateful for remarkable talents of our District Leadership. The District Dispatch you are reviewing is the result of the remarkable talents of our Public Image Team (led by DGN Ben Bauer) and Heather Dyer and her team at Morgan Data Solutions. Each of the sections found below are the work of our remarkable District Leaders. I stand in awe of the talents of our Membership, Foundation, Youth Program and Public Image committees. Day in and Day out, they guide their remarkable teams to serve all District and often Zone Rotarians. At this point of the year we begin to look ahead and what is to come while continuing to strive to achieve what we have in front of us. I am grateful to be followed into the Governor role by DGE Karen Hebert, a Rotarian of tremendous insight and gifts that I believe will take root within our district and you provide Rotary the gift of your Treasure. I am especially grateful for your gifts of your donations as we put a bow on Foundation Month. Your gifts of your treasure to the Rotary Foundation makes a true difference in the our communities and the world. I was honored to attend a week-long conference (virtual of course) of our West Africa Rotary Districts as they highlighted their work on the ground thru club activities and Foundation. Over400 projects spread amongst seven districts. Each of these projects is funded by local donations from African Rotarians thru District Grants. They also receive significant funding from the Rotary Foundation thru the Global Grants Program. Our International Service Committee is up to its elbows in reviewing and evaluating many of these programs to see if there are good fits within our district. If your club has ever wanted to be involved in a Global Grant, contact PDG Chuck Hanson (ceh@haleskemp.com)
As we head towards the end of the year, take a moment to celebrate how far your club has come. We have emerged with new ways of meeting, new ways of serving, new ways of fellowship. Your club and our Rotary is better because of it. Celebrate the holidays – however you have chosen to do so. Delight in the friends and other volunteers you will see providing food for the hungry, ringing bells to support good cause, and being the best versions of ourselves to assist those whose need is greatest. Recognize that to us Rotarians service is not a seasonal thing… it is a year-round thing… and we do this at a real level – a person-to-person level.
Did I mention how grateful I am for each of you? 😊
May you celebrate your holidays in the manner you wish with the people you wish. The best from the Pritchard family to each of you.
Be well and healthy,
Bill Pritchard
6250 District Governor 2020-2021