2025 - - TWO Months Down! 
February 2025 - - - shortest month of the year and also the FASTEST for District 5830. Did everyone remember to BUY that valentine? A card? Candy? The full deal with Card, Candy, and Flowers? ? As Rotarians we are so, so blessed and with the “service above self” focus, Valentine’s Day was a great way to prove our “worth” to family, friends, and other Rotarians!
February 2025 - - - shortest month of the year and also the FASTEST for District 5830. Did everyone remember to BUY that valentine? A card? Candy? The full deal with Card, Candy, and Flowers? ? As Rotarians we are so, so blessed and with the “service above self” focus, Valentine’s Day was a great way to prove our “worth” to family, friends, and other Rotarians!January was “Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month”. With the 2025 USA Political changes - - - whether GOOD or BAD, it still a time for change and HOPEFULLY, we have started 2025 with a renewed focus on BUILDING PEACE and RESOLVING CONFLICT!
Our recent January 2024-2025 Foundation brought lots of opportunities to share and expand our reach by providing funds to the Rotary International funds. What are YOU and YOUR CLUBS doing to continue the push to serve our communities, extend our domestic reach, and expand the Rotary vision through our support of District and Global Grants? Some of us are blessed with extensive financial abilities, while others are still struggling to pay all the bills - - - as we focus on “Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention”, every dollar counts - - big or small.
The 2025 version of LONE STAR PETS (President Elect Training Seminar) has come and gone as we wrapped up the third day of training and networking on March 1 at the DFW Hyatt Regency. Two of our dynamic District 5830 leaders served as LSPETS “RANGERS” to help “herd” the TEN Rotary Districts attending 2025 LSPETS. “DG-Elect” Damon Donnell organized, planned, and led the charge of our District 5830 group of PDG’s, AG’s, President Elects, President Nominees, various Club Officers, and spouses / friends. As always, District Administrator Shirley Pinnix-Evans worked MANY, MANY hours behind the scenes, as well as being on-site for the DFW Hyatt event. DG Elect Damon Donnell, DG-Nominee Diane Kavanaugh, Immediate Past DG Karen Maines, PDG Mike Groom, PDG Jack Welge, and I thank ALL THAT attended and help with 2024 LS PETS!
Our 2025 LOCAL PETS class will be held on April 5, 2025 - - - this is a ONE DAY “catch up” version for President Elects that missed the 2025 LS PETS. Rotary International requires ALL Rotary Club President Elects to attend PETS training. Check the District Calendar website calendar to get MORE details on the 2025 LOCAL PETS classes. (check out “Rotary5830.org”)
The 2025 FOUR WAY SPEECH Contest is scheduled for April 12 at the Northeast Texas Community College in Mt. Pleasant. Always a great way to invest in lives and students. Ask some of your Club Members about the Four Way Speech Contest - - - you might be surprised!
PDG Ted Huffhines continues to lead the efforts to plan, organize, communicate and our FIRST District 5830 Legacy Dinner, which is planned for April 26, 2025, at the Holly Tree Country Club in Tyler, TX. The Legacy “fireside chats” continue to share more of the Legacy Dinner Vision and Plans. WHAT are you doing to extend “your Rotary Legacy” past this lifetime?
DG Elect Damon Donnell and the Athens Rotary Club launched a “satellite rotary club” in the Chandler community. The “East Henderson County Rotary Club” is up and running as the 42nd Rotary Club in District 5830. Many thanks to all that helped get this group connected and established.
After several months of researching, planning, organizing, and “testing the waters”, the Tyler Food Bank Rotary Club completed a club charter, elected “transferring” South Tyler Rotarian Clint Henderson President, and enlisted / secured 25 FOUNDING members for the new, stand-alone club. The club membership includes 10 NEW Rotarians, 9 RETURNING/FORMER Rotarians, and 6 TRANSFERING Rotarians. Additional “Food Bank Rotary Clubs” are being planned for at least two more cities in D5830. More information is available, or just contact Clint Henderson or me to learn more.
Please remember - - - it is never too early to make plans and REGISTER for the 2025 Rotary International Convention which will be in Calgary, Canada June 21-25, 2025. We are EXCEEDED our RI Convention “registration goal” but there is plenty of room to still register. If you’ve never been to a Rotary International Convention, the 2025 Canada event would be a great time to expand your horizon and see how Rotarians from around the world SERVE SERVE SERVE!
Thanks for allowing me to SERVE as your DG for 2024-2025
Jeff W Johnston
