Governor's Message
Welcome. We are
motivated to start the new Rotary year by the opportunity to continue
the huge success of the past year and a clear vision for continued
success as we go forward into 2002-2003. PDG Jeff Donaghue gave constant
emphasis to the goals of the Global Quest. The results were, membership
grew to new heights, initiatives were made for the establishment of new
clubs, and clubs took on new community and global projects. With the
International Theme of Sew the Seeds of Love and the compatible District
theme, Make Time For Rotary we can consolidate the gains of last year
and progress to new levels.
Bhichal Rattakul, Rotary International President for 2002-2003, is a man
who conveys a powerful influence by his calm, pleasant manner and his
"bottom up" philosophy. He speaks in a quiet tone that causes
individuals around him to feel at ease and to feel kindness toward
others. His manner can actually have a significant impact on people,
everywhere. In Anaheim, California, I saw his profound effect on 530
District Governors from every part of the world. These leaders will be
transmitting this feeling to their 30,000 clubs, which contain 1.2
million members. These Rotarians will be going into their communities
with this message of love and kindness. Who can calculate the impact?
Mr. Rattakul, a career elected official and diplomat from Thailand, has
definite directives on how Rotarians should serve. His specific
initiatives will be stressed in my club visits and writings throughout
the year.
Our District theme of Make Time For Rotary is conpatible with the
International Theme. We are asking all Rotarians to allocate time for
Rotary that is in perspective with their overall personal
responsibilities. We have certain personal and family needs that must be
our main priority. However, human beings have an amazing capacity for
sharing their love, time and wealth. As business and professional
leaders, we are blessed with abundance. Rotary provides one of the best
opportunities to make quality use of our time and resources. We can
enjoy good company as we break bread once a week and we can help the
blind to see, the thirsty to drink safe water, the lame to walk, the ill
to be healed all for a few hundred dollars. What better opportunity to
share our abundance!
Let us together, Sew the Seeds of Love and Make Time for Rotary as we
make ourselves better persons and the world a better place to live in.
Lawrence R. Ninerell.
Governor 2002-2003 |
July
