District Governor Message for May, 2016

Dear Fellow Rotarians,
 
"Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
 
This biblical pronouncement is practical time-tested sound advice regardless of one's beliefs. May is Youth Service month in the Rotary World.  Youth Service is the Fifth Avenue of Service on which our service activity is based.  When this avenue of service was introduced in 2010, it was envisaged that Rotarians could positively affect the youth through "leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding."* Many programmes exist in our District such as Rotaract,Interact, Earlyact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, andRotary Youth Exchange
 
In my official visits to our territories, I particularly enjoyed the time spent with our youth.  I watched their earnestness in conducting their meetings and planning and executing projects.  They clearly had community values instilled in them that they will not depart from.  This Rotary year, our youth groups had the opportunity to write songs about the Four-Way Test and to make videos encouraging Peace and Conflict Resolution for two District contests.  Their work was both inspiring and thought-provoking.  I recall meeting 10 year-old, Jaleel Cameron, Earlyactor in Tortola, BVI, who was motivated to raise  money for a hospital which did not have the equipment he needed to treat his illness.  Jamaal did not complain or sulk.  He took action.  He sold water and raised USD$27,000! 10 years old!
 
I am confident that Rotarians in our District are ensuring that our communities have a bright future and that our youth will aim for peaceful interactions and co-existence in our world. It is important that our Rotary Clubs remain committed to mentoring our youth, involving them in our service projects and providing the resources needed to support them.
 
May is also the month of District Conference in our beautiful District!   Carla and I, along with your Rotary family of The Bahamas, are ready to welcome you to the 42nd Annual PETS, Assembly and Conference of Rotary District 7020.  We are excited that RI President Ravi and his wife, Vanathy, will join us.  However, we are mindful that not all of our Rotary family will there.   For the first time in our District, we will have an integrated "IT Smart" Conference.  Everyone can download our own mobile app to see what is happening each day as well as access information on the speakers and sessions.  Download the app here:https://guidebook.com/g/d7020bahamas2016/   Additionally, some of the sessions, including the Opening Ceremony, will be streamed live so that everyone in our District can take part. 
 
My Rotary family, thank you for all that you do.  Continue to move from Success to Significance.  Be a role model for our youth and others and Be a Gift to the World
 
 
Felix N. Stubbs
District Governor 2016 - 2017
 
 
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