12 Clubs, Countless Stories, One Rotary Family!
What makes Rotary special isn’t the miles we travel, but the people we meet, the stories we share, and the difference we make together.
Join me on my September journey across District 6250 to discover the service, laughter, and connections that remind us why we become Rotarians, and why we stay.
September put my commitment to visit every club in Rotary District 6250 into high gear. I spent the month on the road meeting Rotarians, listening to their stories, learning about their communities and seeing firsthand the many ways our clubs are putting ‘Service Above Self’ into action.
One of the greatest privileges of serving as District Governor is the opportunity to step into a club's meeting room and experience Rotary through the eyes of its members. Every club has its own personality, traditions, challenges and successes. Yet, everywhere I go, I find the same thing: people who care deeply about their communities and who are willing to roll up their sleeves to make a difference.
My September visits included 12 club meetings across the district. The month began in Portage and Wisconsin Dells, continued through Watertown, Fort Atkinson, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, and Lodi, and then brought me back toward the Coulee Region for visits with La Crosse-After Hours, Onalaska Hilltoppers, La Crosse, and La Crosse-Valley View. I finished the month with Madison West/Middleton.
The miles are certainly part of the job, but the miles are not what I will remember. I will remember the conversations. I will remember club members sharing the projects they are proud of, the people they have helped and the ideas they have for the future. I will remember the energy in the room when Rotarians talk about a service project that has made a real difference in their community. The fun and laughter I witnessed shows we are a family of fun changemakers!
I also want to thank the club presidents, officers and members who welcomed me and my wife, Mary, during September. Your hospitality, your questions and your willingness to share what is happening in your clubs make these visits valuable. I am not traveling the district simply to deliver a message; I am traveling to listen and to learn. Oh, and thanks for the gifts of pies, jams and donations to Polio in my name during my visits.
As I continue my year as your District Governor, my goal remains simple: to experience Rotary with you. I want to celebrate your successes, understand your challenges, help connect you with district resources and, whenever possible, join you in the work that makes our communities stronger.
September was only the beginning. There are many more miles to travel and many more Rotarians to meet. I am grateful for every invitation, every handshake and every conversation. Thank you for reminding me, visit after visit, not only why we became Rotarians but more importantly why we stay as Rotarians.