Governor's November Message

This abundant donation to our Foundation will bring clean water to families which have none nearby and would otherwise have to drink from dangerously polluted sources or walk miles for a meager supply. It will help feed the hungry, and it will battle diseases which cripple and kill our vulnerable neighbors in areas suffering under the yoke of poverty and hopelessness. Your generosity will build peace, understanding and goodwill worldwide by providing unique scholarships and exchanges which forever change the way we perceive our distant cousins from far away lands. Our goal this year is that each Rotarian set aside $20 per month for our Rotary International Foundation. We are almost halfway there. With your continued support, we will achieve this goal by June 2007.

Our Foundation Celebration Committee, chaired by Kathy Turner, did yeoman's work planning and preparing for "An Affair to Remember." Each member brought extraordinary creativity, energy, talent and enthusiasm to this project, and each devoted countless hours to make this the resounding success that it was. I am sincerely grateful to each one of these remarkable Rotary volunteers. No gift, no acknowledgement can adequately express my appreciation for their work. My hope is that each will know that the fruit of their labors will be sustenance for the poor, comfort for the afflicted and the peace that only true friendship can bring.

On January 9, 2007, we will return to the Crowne Plaza Hotel for our third District breakfast. This is one you will not want to miss. The event will be planned and carried out by our youth leaders, with Rotaract Governor, Megan Cotugno, at the helm. We have an outstanding speaker, Errol Southers, who will speak on a topic we cannot ignore - homeland security. Mr. Southers is an Adjunct Professor of Terrorism and Public Policy at the University of Southern California and the University's Associate Director at the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events. He previously worked as the Deputy Director of the California Office of Homeland Security.

In all that we do, we must teach our children. We must teach them by our words and by our deeds. Our children are the family, and the future, of Rotary. They are our sons, our daughters, our grandchildren, our nephews and nieces, and they are the members of our Rotaract, Interact and Youthact clubs. As Rotarians, our first priority ought to be to instill in them the desire to be honest, fair, respectful and humble men and women. We must also teach them the joy of service to mankind and the benefits of Rotary fellowship and business acquaintance with ethical associates, but we can only do these things if we share our wisdom, our capabilities, our experiences and our opportunities. I hope that on January 9 you will attend and enjoy our first youth-led District breakfast, and I also hope that you will share this opportunity with your Rotary family by bringing members of your club's related Rotaract, Interact and Youthact clubs to the event with you.

May I ask your help with another important Rotary matter? We are now assembling teams for our two Group Study Exchanges, one to the island of Mindanao in the Philippines, and one to the Yucatan Peninsula in southern Mexico. These are vocational and cultural exchanges, which last for four weeks. All expenses, other than those of a personal nature, are paid by the Rotary International Foundation and by the host Rotary clubs. We have already selected two outstanding Rotarians to serve as team leaders, and we are now seeking team members, ages 25 to 40, who must not be Rotarians nor closely related to a Rotarian. Please nominate candidates who would be exceptional ambassadors for Rotary and for our country. Additional details, including applications, are available on our website, www.Rotary5280.org. You may also call our Group Study Exchange Chair, Chuck Hanchett, at (310) 547-1973 for further information. As I look forward to our Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded of how blessed I have felt this year to serve as your District Governor. I have become better acquainted with remarkable leaders. I have been received warmly and graciously at each of my club visits. I have learned about the extraordinary service that our clubs perform both in our own communities and abroad, and I have been privileged to serve a small role in this magnificent enterprise which we call Rotary.

Have a very Happy Thanksgiving!
Warmest regards,
Scot