Happy Rotary New Year my fellow Rotarians and the family of Rotary! 

Can you believe the new Rotary Year is already upon us. I'm excited. And I hope you are too. 

It's going to be a great year ahead. I want to thank Immediate Past District Governor Felix and his lovely wife Carla for stellar leadership this past year. They've worked hard for Rotary, and for our clubs. 

Many of you may have already had your installations, changeovers or change of boards, and many will be having them shortly. I'm wishing you the very best for the year ahead. I congratulate the 2015-2016 leadership team for Being Gifts to the World and encourage them to assist and support the 2016-2017 #Allstars team. 

What you do this year my friends will resonate for generations to come. You are the custodians of Rotary's legacy. Respect this honour. Respect this responsibilty. 

It is an exciting time for Rotary, and an exciting time for our Diverse District. This Rotary Year is possibly going to be the one with the most changes in Rotary’s 111 years. There are lots of ideas, tools, and plans revolves that around change & flexibility – and as the year unfolds expect some new thinking, & new ways of doing things. As The General Secretary John Hewko said “Everything is on the table regarding change”.

But change isn’t something that just happens – it begins with me, with you – with us all – we need to embrace change – And you,– the club leaders – Change begins with you. So I enjoin you to BE THE CHANGE as we take ROTARY into greater relevance, better value, an even more amazing experience.

 


 
 
 

And of course the District Team is here to help you. So take advantage of the team. The District Chairs, your AG, and myself.

As an organization, we cannot solve all of humanity's problems. But that is not our goal. Our goal is simply to make the world a better place – To Serve HUMANITY.

And that is what the International theme for 2016-2017 is – Rotary Serving Humanity.

President of Rotary International John Germ, from Tennessee, USA is a great Rotarian and a wonderful human being. His leadership in 16-17 will be a powerful and inspirational one. His theme brings us back to the very core of who we are what we do – We Serve Humanity. 

Service to humanity has been the cornerstone of Rotary since its earliest days and has been its main purpose ever since. I don't think there is a better path to meaningful service today than Rotary membership. A great way to make a real and positive difference in our world. We brings together committed, capable professionals in a wide variety of fields and enables them to achieve ambitious goals. Through Rotary, we have the capacity, the network and the knowledge to change the world: the only limits are the ones we place on ourselves.

2016-2017 is also going to be very special – It is when we celebrate 100 Years of DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD – 100 Years of our Rotary Foundation – the vehicle Rotarians have used to create lasting, impactful differences in communities across the globe. From the eradication effort of POLIO to bringing clean water to communities around the world.

As i close I want to remind you of 4 things: 

#1 . I hope you've had a chance to look at the Rotary International Citation, District Governor's award, & Club Distinction Awards. These are great tools to help you as you plan your year. Use them. Let it guide you. Let them inspire you. 

#2 With the new Council on Legislation changes bringing increased flexibility this is the time to sit with your board and membership and start the dialogue on where your club needs to be. Chart the course on the best way forward for YOUR club. It may be that you need to do nothing - and that's fine. But it can also be an opportunity to create a more vibrant experience for your members.

#3. Our District Celebration will take the form of a Cruise Confernece May 15-19, 2017. Don't delay. May your booking now. at 7020.org

And last but not least, We will all get together in Atlanta for celebrating 100 years of the Rotary Foundation. June 10-14, 2017 goto rotary.orgto register.

My friends, We must stand proud and celebrate what together we all have accomplished – and what you, the #AllStars class of 2016-2017, will build on into the next century of service.

I wish you all the best as we set sail for an incredible year ahead.

 

YIRS

Haresh L. Ramchandani
District Governor 2016 - 2017

 

 
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