Governor’s Message
By Ron Petersen, Sr.
As the year comes to an end, so does our official club visits. What wonderful clubs! Louise and I are blessed to have had the experience. Thank you all for the warm reception and great hospitality! We extend warm greetings to each of you for a Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year!
December is Family Month and time to focus on our families, to involve them in our Rotary service, and to answer the call to do even more for the many in need throughout our world. There are so many families and children waiting for our help, and helping is what we as Rotarians do best. We cannot look away. We should not rest until children, all over, have a chance for long healthy lives. For we must Make Dreams Real for every child in every home where there is hunger, sickness, and want.
December 1st a baby girl was born into our family, Alexis Claire is our first great-grandchild. As a father of five, grandfather of sixteen and now a great-grandfather, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by a loving growing family. As we raised our five children, Louise and I worked hard to provide for them and giving them what all children need most: a loving, safe, and stable home. Our children were priority number one! We always had good nutritious meals on the table, enough adequate clothing, superb medical care, and a quality education for each of them. In doing this we knew too well how fortunate we were and truly grateful that we never had to say, “Sorry kids, we have nothing to eat tonight,” or “I’m sorry, but we can’t afford warm clothing for the winter.”
As a Rotarian, I read and hear about too many children in the world that are deprived of the basic essentials of food, medical care, clothing, education and shelter. And as a Rotarian who is also a father, I have said at many of our Official Visits to clubs in District 6110 “All of the world’s children are our children.” This Christmas Time, I want you to think about them and pledge to be the spark plug in your Rotary Club that will lead the way and get involved with DK Lee’s efforts. We must Make Dreams Real for the children of the world.
As I watch my grandchildren - laughing, pictures of health and going to good schools - I cannot help but think of the millions who do not have these advantages. I think of the children with too little to eat and only dirty water to drink. I think of the children who are sick with preventable diseases and those who will sleep in a dangerous place tonight. These things lead me to think of the children, millions of them every year, who will not live to see their fifth birthday.
Ron Petersen, Sr.
District Governor
Ron Petersen, Sr.
In exchange for living here on this earth, I believe we must “pay rent” by giving back. The Rotary Foundation is used by many Rotarians throughout the world to make our dreams of Service Above Self a reality.
In 1917, Arch C. Klumph, Rotary’s sixth president, proposed to the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, the creation of an “endowment fund for Rotary - for the purpose of doing good in the world in charitable, educational, and other avenues of community service.” A few months later, the endowment received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1928, when the endowment fund had grown to more than $5,000, the fund was renamed The Rotary Foundation, and it became a distinct entity within Rotary International. Five Trustees, including Klumph, were appointed to “hold, invest, manage, and administer all of its property, as a single trust, for the furtherance of the purposes of RI.” Two years later, the Foundation made its first grant of $500 to the International Society for Crippled Children. The ISCC, created by Rotarian Edgar F. “Daddy” Allen, later grew into the Easter Seals organization. It was a beginning.
We can take pride in our heart felt efforts for Foundation giving over the past several years, but we should not reduce our level of support for the Foundation. The Rotary Foundation supports community projects throughout our District through District Simplified Grants. In addition, through additional District Designated Funds and Matching Grants, our Foundation adds value to projects that improve the quality of life, administer healthcare, food, disaster relief, clean water, and educational programs. Our Foundation builds peace and better understanding in the world through Group Study Exchanges, Ambassadorial Scholarships, Grants for University Teachers, and Rotary’s Centers for International Study in Peace and Conflict Resolution. From the beginning, the Trustees of the Foundation have insured good stewardship of our funds. Personally, I could not think of a better charity to give funds to than the Rotary Foundation. You have seen and heard of the millions of lives touched by Foundation projects.
Your generosity and selfless giving can help exceed last year’s Foundation gifts and I ask you to encourage those Rotarians you know that are capable of leadership giving to become Major Donors, and for every Rotarian in District 6110 to get involved at some level of giving to the Foundation. The need is great, and we are Rotarians who never turn our backs on those who count on us to step forward. Consider giving just $25 a quarter over the course of every year through electronic funds transfer (EFT). Your giving will insure that future projects will not go undone. Thanks primarily to PDG Gerald Harp’s continuing generosity, we still have matching Foundation credits available for Rotarians who sign up for EFT. Want more information? Go to www.ri6110.org where you can download the form to make your gift today, then lead the way as an example and be proud to stand up and challenge every member of your club to do the same. If you have become a Paul Harris Fellow and say you’ve given to the Rotary Foundation, that was just the beginning. I encourage you to contact PDG Ed Hardesty about joining the Paul Harris Society. Contact Ed at Edwin.Hardesty@ssa.gov and think seriously about it.
Governor’s Message
By Ron Petersen, Sr.
Our Official Club Visits are stacking up .. at the beginning of October we have visited 46 clubs in the District. We are finding a warm welcome wherever we go. Thank you!
It’s time to FOCUS on October which is Rotary’s “Vocational Service Month”. Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this essential element of Rotary. Vocational Service means:
1. Adherence to, and promotion of, the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public.
2. The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just your own or
those that are pursued by Rotarians.
3. The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
Discussions among clubs and districts on Vocational Service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities. Vocational Service month is an opportunity to begin year-long Vocational Service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects.
Some ideas for your club:
Devote a meeting in October to examining the second Avenue of Service, including The 4-Way Test and The Declaration of Rotarians in Business and the Professions. After expanding members’ awareness, solicit their input in planning projects for the remainder of the year.
Introduce a “mini-classifications talk” series in which each member gives a five-minute talk on his or her vocation. Schedule one speaker for the beginning of each meeting until everyone has made a presentation. The purpose: promote vocational awareness among Rotarians and help them recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations.
Present a vocational award to someone in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining very high ethical standards. Promote the presentation within the community, and consider making it an annual October event.
Invite experts to give a presentation on the vocational needs of the community and develop a project in response to those needs. Possible projects could focus on developing character, providing career information to youth, mentoring small businesses, or organizing workshops that provide employees with new skills.
Ron Petersen, Sr.
District Governor
Governor’s Message
By Ron Petersen, Sr.
As we make our rounds through the District, Louise and I are having a fantastic time on our Official Visits to the clubs. What a great group of Rotary clubs we have in District 6110 .. which proves there are no better people who exist on the earth than Rotarians. On August 31st we will have visited 38 clubs and look forward to our visit to your home club.
It’s time to FOCUS on September which is Rotary’s “New Generations Month”. Rotary has always centered its attention on the needs of children and youth. Is your club making efforts to support young people in your community? There are many opportunities for clubs to be involved with youth.
Get involved in Youth Exchange. We as a District have the potential to sponsor a great deal more inbound and outbound long-term exchange students. Now is the time to make it happen next year. Make a commitment to host or sponsor an exchange student. Plan to send a representative to the SCRYE Conference in Tulsa in February.
Adopt a school. Every Rotary club should adopt a school. Life long relationships will be formed with the influence of Rotary role models cannot be overstated.
Get involved in Interact or Rotoract. If your club does sponsor an Interact or Rotoract Club, make an effort to get involved, and if your club does not sponsor an Interact or Rotoract club, be the driving force in forming a club.
Send youth from your community to RYLA. Our RYLA program is second to none! A leadership opportunity your club should get its arms around by sponsoring several young persons and volunteer at the camp. Tentative dates are March 26, 27, 28 & 29th, 2009.
Be involved in the Four Way Test Speech Contest. A great way to get students exposed to Rotary and the ethics in life and in business. Every club in the District should conduct a contest.
Recognize outstanding students in local schools. Recognize Juniors/Seniors of the month and invite them to attend your club meetings. Provide scholarships and other support.
Participate in the CHOICES program a fantastic and life changing program that teaches junior high students that the choices they make have long-term and lasting effects now and into the future.
Support the Dictionary Project. Only a few clubs in District 6110 are not involvement in this great project which makes sure every third grader in District 6110, even those in communities without a Rotary Club, receives a dictionary. Let’s get 100% of our clubs doing this program!
These are only a few suggestions. As adults, we forget what an influence we have our youth!
Ron Petersen, Sr.
District Governor
Governor’s Message
By Ron Petersen, Sr.
Rotary wasn’t given to you to keep .. it was given to you to give-away! July is Membership and Extension Month. It’s time to “get real” about RI President DK Lee’s suggested membership goal of 10% net and two new clubs. Last year, PDG Ellis Potter informed us that District 6110 was close to being the #1 district in North America. District 5020 was on top. This year, I invite you to join me in tracking how District 6110 stacks up by visiting the following link on your browser; http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/memb_comparison_current_en.pdf
Keep tabs on how District 6110 compares to District 5020’s two numbers (one US - one Canada). As I have reported during my club visits, according to the May 31 figures, District 6110 is the LARGEST District in membership in the UNITED STATES and that was with 78 clubs and 5,140 members reported on the RI Web. When RI posts our 79th club, District 6110 will move closer to being #1 in “North America” in membership. District 5020’s two figures 1,687 and 3,589 added together = 5,276 with 86 clubs. This year we have a good chance to pass them up in MEMBERSHIP and who knows maybe even in CLUBS. We are very close to District 5020’s numbers!
Isn’t it time to go that extra mile in membership by practicing retention while getting new qualified members? Club Presidents - have you appointed a Membership Chair for your club? If not, do so now and make sure you join them and attend one of the Regional Membership Meetings. The meeting sites at the locations as of this writing are not yet firmed up, but you may contact District Administrator Terri Pollmiller tpollmiller@sbcglobal.net to get the latest. The NW Arkansas and Missouri meetings were successful and still to come are; KANSAS 8/14 6-8pm in CHANUTE. Then OKLAHOMA 8/25 6-8pm in TULSA & later in ARKANSAS 10/9 6-8pm at VAN BUREN.
Your club needs to be creating awareness with Public Relations & using club brochures. It’s a good idea to update your ‘Classification Survey’ to identify classifications/vocations missing in your club. Consider this list for new members; Neighbors, friends & family, new or existing businesses, places of worship, former Rotaractor’s, GSE team members, RYLA awardees, Youth Exchange participants & Ambassadorial Scholars. Get ‘em in and get ‘em involved! Set up the Red Badge program, assign a mentor, have new member forums, make sure they are assigned to a committee or participating in a new project.. In addition, have them act as Greeters or man the badge case to meet your entire club. KEY POINT: When new members are inducted, give them TWO pins - announce one is for them and another for the new member they will bring in the next 6 months.
“The magic of Rotary is that Rotary allows ordinary people to do extraordinary things. I know it’s always not an easy thing to invite someone into Rotary. Too often, we hear no. And nobody likes to hear no. It’s easy to get discouraged. But you have to expect those no’s and know when to ask again - and when to move on to find a yes somewhere else. That yes that you get, on the second or third or fourth try, is what Rotary needs from you most of all. It is the single most important thing you can do to ensure Rotary’s second century. Without new members, nothing else matters. Because however good our work, however valuable and vital, without new members it will take only a few decades for Rotary to disappear”. Past RI President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson
Membership Development is more than just recruiting members. While we must actively develop a strategy to attract new members, keeping them is the greatest challenge. The key to retention is an active club with fun meetings, good food, great programs, and lots of activities in which all members are involved! Lastly; it’s smart to address resigning members by conducting exit interviews - it may be a real eye opener!
Ron Petersen, Sr.
District Governor
Thanks, Ron, for your timely comments and insight during your and Louise’s visit to Tulsa Sunrise this week. Your inspiring introduction of “Make Dreams Real” served as the ideal table-setting for the Club Assembly we will present over the next two weeks to recruit support for the projects and programs to be pursued this year.
Tulsa Sunrise Rotarians look forward to working with you and supporting District 6110 goals throughout this Rotary year.
Best wishes for continued success!
As my year as District Governor begins, I am not only excited about this wonderful privilege to serve such a great district, but I also feel very fortunate! Fortunate to have close to 5,200 Rotarians in the four-state area available to roll up their sleeves and help me! I will be relying on each of you to achieve the many important goals we have before us. Louise and I hope you will also keep us in your prayers as we travel the roads to visit the 79 clubs in the district.
I join our new RI President D.K. Lee in his hopes to see reducing the child mortality rate as a key goal of club and district service projects during the Rotary year. This is why the RI theme for 2008-09 is “Make Dreams Real”. Food and water, health care and schooling, the chance at a long and full life — this is the unrealized dream of too many children. We can Make Dreams Real for these children and their families, by working toward the Rotary dream of a happier, healthier, and more peaceful world.
July is Literacy month and a good time to have a club program on Literacy. Almost every club in the district works with Gary Pollmiller Chairman of the Literacy / Dictionary Project. If your club is one not to participate, appoint a chairman and call on Gary to get you enrolled in this worthwhile program. The Rotary District 6110 Dictionary Project’s goal is to assist all students in completing the school year as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing students with their own personal dictionary.
The coming year will be a year of change for our district and it would not have been possible without those that did so much to help as I made my approach to this day. My heartfelt thanks to PDG Ellis Potter, this past Rotary year was a great year highlighted by two new Arkansas clubs; Bella Vista Sunrise and The Rotary Club of Alma. I can only hope to do as well! For me, Ellis put the meaning in “Rotary Shares” as he provided the his help and guidance. Terri Pollmiller, our District Administrator, has and will continue to be by my side in bringing about a lot of very positive changes. I’m sure you have noticed the new look of the District Directory, I owe thanks to Terri and Gary for an outstanding job! Steve Reid, our former 6110 Times Editor, hasn’t hung up his hat and is now wearing a “new hat” as the Webmaster for our fantastic new Web site! Check it out.
Welcome goes out to the new Assistant Governors; Jeanie Anderson assigned to Bella Vista Sunrise, Bentonville Daybreak, Eureka Springs, Holiday Island and Siloam Springs; Leslie Davis assigned to Booneville, Greenwood, Ozark and Paris; Steve Lovick assigned to Ft. Smith Southside, Poteau, River Valley and Van Buren; Jayne Lowe assigned to Bentonville, Cassville, Rogers Early Risers and Rogers; Kelly Rector assigned to Chanute, Ft. Scott, Humboldt and Iola; Troy Richards assigned to Joplin Daybreak and Joplin and Fred Williams will serve the Ft. Smith club. If you are a Past President and would like to serve as a future Assistant Governor, contact DGE A.C. Moncrief or DGN Rod Sands who serves as Assistant Governor’s PODS Coordinator.
Next Month AUGUST is Membership and Extension month. I hope you have a Membership Chair – if not “appoint” one now to target new members within your community. Remember, our goal is 10% net and two new clubs.
Rotary is all about growth, your personal growth, the growth of District 6110, the growth of membership and foundation support. Do your part to grow and “Make Dreams Real”. Together we will Keep Rotary Strong!
Yours in Rotary Service,
Ron Petersen, Sr.
