Our District
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I am honored to be selected to serve as your District Governor in Rotary District 5680 in the Rotary year 2024-2025. At my training in the International Assembly in Orlando, Florida our Rotary International president Stephanie Urchick delayed her announcement of our annual theme with some drama. When she finally said “The Magic Of Rotary” the auditorium exploded with enthusiasm. We learned the colors she chose for certain meanings: Orange for change, the color of fall and the many hues my sugar maple trees show in autumn. Sky blue is the color of knowledge and intelligence. We need to direct change to make the club experience irresistible to help new and long members feel they belong, are valued, and included. I encourage all clubs to participate in a Visioning exercise. In a nutshell, it is organized brainstorming, to develop a three year plan for each club and a course each member can embrace. I want to use Visioning on our District level as well. President Urchick is continuing to make polio a top priority our year, and the end of this disease is so close I can see it and taste victory. I propose each club start planning a celebration party for when the world is declared polio free. That declaration will take some time, but let us be ready with a party to celebrate. Rotary has led that campaign, and let us dance with joy at the end of the journey. Another top priority this year is pursuing peace throughout the world. Rotary has established Peace Centers across the world, and another is opening in Istanbul, Turkey in January 2025. At these schools a person can earn a Master’s Degree and learn conflict resolution without war. (That will be so much cheaper!) This is another example of many working together. “Many hands make light work” is so true, and certainly important here. At the International Convention I got to hear of two ladies with an “Unconventional Friendship” – one of them is from Turkey, the other from Greece. Their friendship has lasted for decades, and survived their countries being in conflict. Rotary’s membership has suffered, particularly after the COVID pandemic. Let us remember what we loved about Rotary before then, and consider renewing those habits and traditions. What can we do new, breaking the thoughts of “We have always done it that way!” to new ways of “doing Rotary.” Consider your own Rotary family tree. Who invited you to join? And who have you invited? Have you mentored them to become an active member of the Rotary family? I look forward to working together with my Rotary family, and we can make District 5680 Irresistible and admired throughout the globe.
Jeff Horlacher
District Governor District 5680