Reg Madison, DG, June 2018

And now, the end is near and so I face the final curtain….how time has flown!   It seems like I was just starting my year and here we are just days away from a new Rotary year-end, the start of another very exciting year with Melisa Schrock, the #Changemaker, the incoming District Governor for 2018-19.  Speaking of Melisa, we celebrated the District Changeover in Akron last Saturday at their home. What a very different and fantastic event!  John Schrock did a fabulous job in organizing and conducting the event in their back yard and a great time was had by all.  Seen here, is the property with Rotarians - a small Rotary planet on a beautiful day for a changeover.  Thanks, Paul McAfee for the changeover photos - yes, a drone was involved.

 

Many thanks to the District Leadership Team and all the Club Presidents for making this year so special for Loretta and me.  In addition to the many results we’re so proud of, we were shown such wonderful hospitality at the official club visits and functions we attended.  It was indeed a memorable year on so many fronts.  I wish each Rotarian could experience a year like this to truly understand Rotary and what Rotary is and does.  Our deepest gratitude goes to all of District 7090 for Making a Difference and making so many special memories and friends.

 

While I may have thought the load would lessen as we neared the end of my DG year, I was wrong.  It has been an especially busy time in May and June, starting with attendance at the Rotary Club of Dundas' 70^th anniversary.  What a wonderful night highlighted by the sharing of the history of the club.  President Judy Shepalo, who had to step up at the last minute as president, has done a great job leading the club.

 

Then the Australians came to town. The Erie Canal was the venue for the Australian Vocational Training Team to District 7090, hosted by the Lockport club.  A very interesting speaker contributed to the brunch as a welcome and prelude to their ride up the canal.  Then it was Lobsterfest at the Harry Howell Arena in Waterdown hosted by the two Dundas clubs.  Another great event with two happy people going away with wheelbarrows of beverages.

 

Our next stop was the Waterdown club’s annual Paul Harris night where we enjoyed a wonderful evening of fellowship, food and new Paul Harris Fellows.  Next it was on to Queenston for the Niagara Falls Lilac Luncheon and a very interesting presentation and tour of the history surrounding the War of 1812.  Congratulations to organizer Barbara Greenwood and President June Mergl for hosting a memorable event.

 

Into the month of June and our busy schedule continues. Early June we were back to the US for the final District Council meeting of my year where our new Strategic Plan was approved. It will be introduced in July.  Later that week we were again hosted by the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls, this time to welcome the visiting Vocational Training Team to Canada for the balance of their visit before returning to Australia on June 16^th.  Thank you to Chair Dan Smith and our VTT committee, all the Rotarians and clubs who hosted Elizabeth, Jon, Ross and Team Leader Les.  They were most impressed by the kindness and hospitality of the Best of Friends District.

 

We returned to Lockport a few days later for a very different Paul Harris evening.  We installed 16 new Paul Harris Fellows that evening! President Ellen Schratz should be so proud of the Rotary Club of Lockport becoming an “All Paul Harris” Club. Up next for us was a first in our district as both in-bound and out-bound Youth Exchange Students were joined by host parents, past exchange students, RYLA grads and Rotaractors for a spectacular event.  Hats off to the YE committee for this new initiative. That same Sunday, Phil and Paula Race, Brantford Sunrise, hosted a farewell BBQ for the Australian team where we said our final good-byes.

 

Within days I was with members of our College of Past District Governors to bring them up to speed on the progress of the district.  Dean Nick Norton welcomed the attendees. In addition to my talk, DGE Melisa, DGN Bob and DGND Frank addressed the group prior to a lively and healthy exchange. Later that week there was one more Paul Harris evening, as Buffalo Sunrise honored two outstanding citizens at their gathering.

 

Finally, we had a most enjoyable time at the RYLA dinner in Fredonia at the State University of New York.  I presented Certificates of Appreciation to Sue O’Dwyer for her many years of leading RYLA and to Mike Taylor for his Youth Exchange service over the past 4 years.  We are pleased that Darren Luong has stepped up to replace Sue and Jill Norton will replace Mike.

 

One last tribute to someone so very special to me, my official aide and spouse Loretta. She gave so much to me in handling tasks and giving incredible support.  Loretta you are very special and I owe you a huge debt of gratitude.  Thank you so much!

 

And to all Rotarians and spouses, thank you for an unbelievable year and thank you so much for Making a Difference!  Now let’s rally around our new DG Melisa #CHANGEMAKER!