Proud to be a Rotarian

Over the past year I have served as district governor for more than 3,200 Rotarians in 53 Wyoming, Northern Colorado, Eastern Idaho and Western Nebraska.   It has been a rare privilege and a life-changing experience, visiting each of these clubs and seeing the difference they are making through service in their communities, and in many cases, other parts of the world.

This year’s Rotary District Conference was held last week in Steamboat Springs.  Our theme at the conference and throughout the year has been ROTARY PROUD.
     -Proud because our Rotary Foundation, funded almost completely by Rotarians, is second only to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in size and annual grants and aid to national and international humanitarian projects.  Last year alone The Rotary Foundation disbursed more than $150 million to worthwhile projects. With few exceptions, these funds were distributed and managed by individual Rotary clubs.
     -Proud because Rotary made a commitment some 35 years ago to save children throughout the world from the effects of polio.  At the time more than 300,000 contracted polio every year!  In the past year less than 1,000 cases have been reported thanks to Rotary’s efforts to immunize well over two billion children!  Despite Rotary contributions of close to one billion dollars and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours, polio still exists in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria where Rotarians, national governments and world health organizations continue to fight to eradicate polio.  We are “this close” and will not give up until the job is done.
     -Proud because Rotary has been engaged in world peace throughout its history.  Rotarians were instrumental in supporting the creation of the United Nations.  Since 2002 Rotary’s World Peace Fellowship program has funded more than 600 graduate-level university scholarships in peace and conflict resolution for students from 90 different countries.  (One speaker at our district conference was Peace Scholar David LaMotte.)
     -Proud because Rotary stands for ethics both individually and professionally.  The Rotary Four Way Test is an essential element in Rotary membership.   (Is it the truth?  Is it fair to all concerned?  Will it build goodwill and better friendships?  Will it be beneficial to all concerned?) In recent years the Rotary Four Way Test has also been introduced to Yampa Valley grade and high schools students, and to other young people in America and throughout the world.
     -Proud because Rotary is committed to service.  The number of projects underway or completed by the clubs in our district this past year is simply overwhelming.  While many of the clubs and their projects were recognized and awarded at our district conference, far more were completed without acknowledgement or fanfare.  That is the true spirit of Rotary!

 Mike Forney
Rotary District Governor