November 1, 2017
Governor’s Newsletter
 
November is Rotary Foundation month, and we have the opportunity to educate and support the engine that drives our organization. Money given to The Rotary Foundation is used to provide education, literacy, vaccines, clean water, promote peace and micro-economies.  The money given to our Foundation has more power than money given to most charities. Your dollars go towards improving the lives of people you may never meet in places you may never go somewhere in the world. The Foundation is rated fourth in the world by the Navigator Charity monitoring organization. You can be confident in your dollars going toward solving the problem. This is the power of Rotary as local clubs join together to solve problems all over our planet. I encourage every club board to hold a Rotary Foundation program in the next few months and set a goal to increase your clubs giving to the Foundation over last year. I encourage every Rotarian to donate to the Foundation before the end of 2017. I challenge each club to be an EREY club- Every Rotarian Every Year, and to increase the number of Sustaining members- those who give $100. We truly do Make a Difference when we join together and support The Rotary Foundation!
 
We had two separate groups travel to Central America on service trips last month. PDG Carroll Greenwaldt led a group down to the Petén region in Guatemala to see the Hospital project our district has done. He has numerous pictures to share, and he returned with several smaller projects that clubs can join together and support. We had another group go to Honduras to see the Water project we collaborated on with our Rotary friends in Florida. These Rotarians will also have stories and pictures to share in the days ahead. Both are wonderful examples of the power and impact that is available through The Rotary Foundation.
 
At PETS back in February, I challenged every club to have members attend the four District events. We have our annual District Conference coming up on November 10th and 11th. This is an excellent chance to meet old friends and make new ones. We will be joining with District 6190 in Shreveport, and there is an excellent agenda planned. You don’t want to miss it! We will celebrate the 2016-2017 Rotary year under IPDG Lee Montgomery and recognize all that was accomplished. Sign up today on the District 5830 website.
 
Our next District event will be the Foundation Banquet. It will be hosted by the Athens Club  on February 10, 2018. I have been excited to see the number of clubs who are rapidly adding to their membership! I encourage every Rotarian to invite someone to your club meeting, social event, or project. The number one reason people do not join Rotary is because NO One Asked! Identify your friends, neighbors or co-workers who have a servant’s heart and ask them!
 
I will close by saying “Thank You” for the hospitality and friendliness shown to me as I have visited the clubs in 5830. I have been so impressed with the many wonderful people I have had the opportunity to meet. I have seen and heard about the variety of ways you all go about “Making a Difference.”