District
Governor Alan Cain, 2011-2012 - Governor's Message
 As
we Rotarians and clubs consider the challenge put before us by
2011-2012 RI President Kalyan Banerjee to "Reach
Within to Embrace Humanity", we have opportunity to
examine our own individual reasons for being in Rotary, what we
have to offer to our clubs, and what we can do to individually
and collectively make a difference in the world.
President Banerjee has three areas of focus he wants us to
consider in our Rotary year of service. First is the family,
as within the family lies the foundation and development of
peaceful lives which transfers to the community and the world
beyond. Second is a focus on continuity; preserving what
we do well in our clubs, our communities, and beyond. Proven
practices should be retained, not recreated. As practices are
examined for efficiency, relevancy, and results, and are found
to be wanting, the third area of focus comes into view: change.
Not change for the sake of change, but change that is driven by
bold and constructive examination of what we do, how we could do
it better and, in particular, change driven by our honest
assessment of our clubs performance and relevance. Mahatma
Ghandi says it best: "Be the change you want to see in the
world".
It is entirely fitting and relevant that Rotary officially has a
Fifth Avenue of Service in New Generations. Previously
known in District 5190 as "Youth Services" and
addressed through Vocational Services, Rotarians have the
opportunity to help instill ideals of service, core values, and
ethics into the persons of our future. Let's not fail to do
that.
District 5190, while attending to the ongoing health and
development of the district through membership development and
retention, through more and better club assemblies and member
orientations, through healthy Foundation support and
participation; will strive to achieve two special goals this
year. First is a combination of Rotary's Rule Number 1, "Have
Fun!" with further development of "The Family of
Rotary". What activities can your club create or maintain
that brings Rotarians together with their spouses and partners,
their children or grandchildren? Rotarians can easily keep so
busy in service to others that they lose quality time with their
loved ones. We need to make a conscious effort to involve our
families in Rotary activities that create fun and fellowship. To
that end there will be two district level activities in the
coming year which will offer both opportunity for family fun and
raising funds for our End Polio Now campaign. The first
will be "Rotary Day at the Reno Aces" on August 21,
and the second will be "Rotary Getaway at the Likely Links
and RV Park", the weekend of June 23, 2012.
The second special goal deals with focus on New Generations and
will be best demonstrated through the 2012 District Conference
theme "Back to the Future in Rotary". Our
Rotary past will be brought forward as we look to our amazing
future and celebrate, today, those who will participate in it.
Being held at John Ascuagas' Nugget in Sparks, May 18-20, the
conference will feature dynamic speakers, recognition, and
celebration.
A number of significant accomplishments await the Rotarians of
District 5190 in the year ahead. They include the successful
completion of the Bill and Melinda Gates Polio Plus Challenge.
It is evident that we will exceed the goal established for our
district by RI for the three year challenge. Way to go, District
5190! Remember, we are "this close" to the eradication
of the crippling and deadly disease from the face of the earth.
We cannot back off until the job is done.
Another significant activity will be the inclusion in district
trainings and programs of the four Rotary clubs in the Bishop
and Mammoth areas. These four clubs will become a part of
District 5190 officially on July 1, 2012, but there is a lot of
preparation during the current year. Let's all show our incoming
Rotarians how much we welcome them into our district family.
The 2012 Group Study Exchange will be a two-way exchange with
District 4310, Sao Paulo, Brazil, in April and May. Recruitment
of the team leader and members will soon be underway for this
once in a lifetime opportunity. Be sure to get the word out in
your communities for the opportunity available to young
professionals.
Getting the Rotary word out to our communities will be another
focus of this Rotary year. Under strong leadership, our skilled
Public Relations Committee will leverage our PR grant and
district matching dollars to secure a variety of media venues.
Watch for Rotary's image on a billboard, TV station, or radio
station near you. Rotary clubs can and will use local media to
showcase their projects and activities to their particular
communities.
Our 2011-2012 Rotary club presidents have set Foundation and
Membership goals that reflect their belief that "reaching
higher" is something that can and should be done. It will
be an exciting year for District 5190 as we work together to
fulfill the Object of Rotary through selfless acts of
service.
Alan Cain
District Governor, 2011-2012
Rotary District 5190 |
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