Posted by Marlee Diehl

MY PERSPECTIVE

 
Thank you to all Rotarians and your families in Rotary District 7090.  I know we are one big extended family with all the love of families and with some of the foibles too.  It has been my honour/honor to have been your District Governor this year.  Bill and I have relished in attending your club meetings and events; it was wonderful getting to know you better.  We tried some things:
 
  • Holding our District Conference at Batavia Downs Gaming and Horseracing - Working with the majority of our clubs stepping up to purchase the meals for their local food bank and most came to join in the fun and camaraderie, which helped us have a terrific conference.  We even figured out how to get the packages into Canada with little difficulty thanks to helpful Rotarians.
  • Hey, our hat making success stories and pictures traveled far and wide, as I discovered at the recent Rotary International Convention in Atlanta.  Many of my classmates in Zones 24 & 32 referenced your millinery talents.
  • Who would have thought a stationary bike-a-thon would earn over $6000 US for End Polio?  Our inbound Youth Exchange & some Rotaract students led by AG David Greenfield had great fun doing a spinning class to earn the bucks.
    • We currently have only had 6 cases of wild polio globally in 2017.  Still a way to go!  At the convention, $1.2B US was pledged by countries, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and other philanthropic organizations.  This helps, but doesn't get us to the endgame.  It is still going to depend on Rotarians continuing to step up and contribute so our donations may be matched two to one by the Gates Foundation.
  • My hope was to bring an upbeat presentation to you on my official visits.  Only you know if I hit the mark and encouraged your club to reach higher for more members, to give more to The Rotary Foundation, as it is The Rotary Foundation Centennial year.
      • It is not too late top up your contributions this year.  You can do it through www.MyRotary.org and go to Rotary Direct.  It is a simple way to contribute directly to OUR Foundation and you can decide where to assign the funds.  There is not the lag of mailing it in to TRF.  Try it…it is simple!
    • Succession planning at the District level was one of my goals.  Thank you to all those who completed their term.  You worked hard to ensure that you left the role with a well-mentored Rotarian. This will help us build stronger teams to help our clubs whether training, membership development or just how to have more fun while Serving Humanity.
    • One of the strengths of our ‘Best of Friends’ District is our cadre of Assistant Governors.  Gosh, I wish I had the time to be there for all of you, all the time, however, I had the next best thing – 19 Rotarians who help train and mentor 3 to 5 clubs in each area through face-to-face meetings helping to ensure that your club leadership is ready for the next year.  Additionally, these dedicated folks attend your club meetings, come to your fundraisers and answer your queries.  Most of the outgoing AG’s have been working with their replacement making this just like a well-oiled machine.  And they helped make this year fabulous with few bumps.
    • I hoped that at least one AG and area would come forward with a methodology of bringing the clubs together for a project.  Well the Region of Niagara, all 4 areas, have figured it out. They are working together to find a way that Rotary is seen as a unified group by working towards legacy projects. Hats off to these four areas and their members, the initial meeting was interesting and full of, “we can do it!” ideas.
    • I had hoped that we would have an international Global Grant between our two halves – not quite. However, the Buffalo club is working towards being the host club for a literacy Global Grant with clubs from India and Brazil being the international clubs. Perhaps this isn't the first time this happened in our district, but, it is the first time I remember.
    A few years ago, Rotary rebranded itself.  We now have Rotary spelled out with the wheel/cog.  And again, we are moving forward with the rebranding and it so spoke to me.  ROTARY – PEOPLE OF ACTION.  Wow…that is so what we are, right?  Do all of your friends get out of bed early on Saturday morning to man the community Shred-It event keeping valuable data from the landfill, or pick up garbage from the side of a busy road, or attend yet another meeting to plan a fundraiser, so your club can help your community?  We are people of action!  Please take it to heart, stand a little taller, brag a whole lot more about what we do as people of action to your friends, co-workers and maybe even the next person in line at your favorite restaurant.  Each of us doing our part will help the world sustain itself and for it to be a kinder, gentler haven for all of us.
     
    As I sat in the cavernous room with 20,000 fellow Rotarians in Atlanta at last week’s Rotary International Convention, I again realized that Rotary would not work as well if each of us were not club members doing our best to help Rotary Serve Humanity. Perhaps you think what you do is nothing in the bigger scope of the world of Rotary. But, I know you would be missed and the world would be let down a little, if you were not a member of the family of Rotary.  We may not have all the answers, however, all of us working together have changed the world for the better.
     
    You, Rotarians of District 7090, have humbled my husband Bill and me with all you accomplish.  You just find a way to meet your goals and we are so much richer for your efforts.
     
    I will miss the excitement and go-go of this year, but it is time to become your Immediate Past District Governor.  I will always be here for you.  I will always treasure the friendships I made this year.
    I am leaving you in the very capable hands of incoming District Governor Reg Madison.  Good luck, DG Reg, as Rotary Makes a Difference.