Thankfully, 2020 is in the rear-view mirror and we can start to focus on a year of renewal and growth and more importantly real hugs and human contact! Multiple COVID-19 vaccines are a testament to what mankind can accomplish in a timely fashion when we all pull together in a common purpose… a trait of Rotary and its members. And Rotary has the infrastructure in place to ensure that we can help to get needles into arms around the world in a timely fashion to conquer this pandemic in 2021.  We lost an inspiring and dedicated Rotary leader, John P. Heise, (pictured left with his wife Sandy) who passed away suddenly on December 23rd; President of the Rotary Club of Holley, and Past District Governor (2011-2012). John was not only a Rotary leader, but also a passionate educator serving as a public school and high school principal, Director of Special Education and in retirement, Board of Education Trustee. He was a champion of our Youth Exchange Program and the Holley High School Interact Club. He has been an inspiration to many of us and will be sadly missed. The District will honour John with a donation to The Rotary Foundation, Education and Literacy Fund. A number of our clubs have added new members over the past 6 months, which is good news. However, many have lost members. Net membership remains stagnant at 1,960. Please reach out to a colleague, a work-mate, a neighbour, a friend, and invite them to a meeting. We cannot continue to erode membership if we are to be a force in our communities, locally and internationally. Please be a person of action. We can do this. | ||
I have completed almost all of my Club visits virtually on both sides of the border and am focussing on the District Conference under the capable leadership of DGN Lisa Bishop and PDG Melisa Schrock. The theme will be: “Rotary Opens Opportunities-Open Your Opportunities in Rotary.” We are working on ways to make what will be another virtual event meaningful and rewarding. We are exploring the possibility of setting up pods where clubs can safely meet and connect virtually. And we are lining up an awesome group of speakers. Please reserve Saturday, March 20, 2021, in your calendars. (See DGN Lisa’s 
report in this newsletter for more information).
report in this newsletter for more information). Our District 7090 has taken the lead in a multi-district, 2 Zone Great Lakes Watershed Clean-up, to be held during Earth Day (Week of April 22, 2021), which will see Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and Friends of Rotary working with waterway agencies pick up trash and plastic. Presently 15 districts comprising 100’s of clubs and thousands of our Rotary Family have agreed to participate in this clean-up of all 5 Great Lakes and the watershed that feeds them. As you know this will fall into Rotary International’s newly formed Focus on the Environment. I am asking every club in 7090 to start checking out waterways in your area for clean up.
Finally, I have challenged you all to consider being a blood donor and am pleased that a number of clubs have taken on the challenge. I had the opportunity of joining members of the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore in December in donating a pint for a good cause. Please check out your local blood donor agency in support of this District-wide initiative and please post pictures on your website and Facebook page.Yours in Rotary Service,
Frank Adamson
Governor, District 7090
The Best of Friends District
Proud Member of the Rotary Club of Fonthill, Ontario.