What a great week we have had. Loving the weather! I know our clubs and Rotarians remain active doing service in our communities. Warm weather makes it just a little more fun. Last week I visited the Susquehanna Township club, my 41^st and last official Governor visit. I am elated that I got to visit each of our clubs and experience the camaraderie that is a Rotary club while learning about all the projects, giving, and challenges each club undertakes. Even our smallest clubs are doing great things for their communities. It is an honor to serve in Rotary with you and I am inspired each time I interact with Rotarians. Thank you.

 

As the spring season opens, we look forward to new opportunities in life and in Rotary. Talk with your club leaders about where you might help do some “spring cleaning” in the club. Maybe all those pictures we took over the past months need to be sorted, labelled, and posted. Many of our web sites and social media sites need clean up and refresh. Maybe your club’s historical records need to be updated with the last few club events. Maybe the local community needs some help getting the parks and gardens back in shape for all to enjoy. It only takes a couple energetic Rotarians to get a project started. Could that be you? One service area we can really engage is in our youth programs. Our Youth Exchange students are a joy to be around. Could your club sponsor an inbound student this coming year or next? The deadline for submitting an application to attend RYLA is approaching. Does your club have a student or two who will benefit from this program? Our Interact clubs across the district are always looking to do meaningful service projects. Can your club engage with them and build those connections? Our 4-Way Test Speech and Essay contests are underway. Can your club conduct local contests and participate in the district contest program for next year? There are endless possibilities to engage with our youth.

 

District Learning Assembly is one week away. Over 50 of us are registered to attend on Saturday, March 23rd, at Central Penn College. There is still room for more Rotarians and guests to learn a little more about all that Rotary is and does. The list of sessions and registration details are on the front page of the district web site. We have a great group of instructors who will share knowledge and facilitate discussion, so we learn from each other and take back some cool ideas to our clubs. There is a specific session focused on our newest members to help them understand all that is Rotary. Maybe you could invite a prospective member to come attend that session to further their interest in Rotary. I look forward to learning with you next week.

 

District Conference 2024. Our conference this year will be a multi-part event on 19-20 April. We will have something to interest everyone. The details and registration link are all on the district web site. Friday the 19^th will be at the Army Heritage and Education Center (AHEC) in Carlisle and offer several history related events. As we gather and socialize together, the AHEC staff will give us tours of the facility and show us what it has to offer the public – a great place to take the kids and grandkids. Then we’ll dine together and have our program. We will hold our 4-Way Test Speech and Essay contest final and select the winners. Always an inspiring event to hear our high school students teach us powerful ideas. And we’ll close with a presentation by one of our Army War College historians on some historical leadership lessons, which will be of interest to all of us who lead in our professional, personal, and volunteer lives. Then on Saturday morning, we have several hands-on service projects in different corners of the district. Even if you cannot attend the other parts of the district conference, you are welcome to join one of the projects and render service in our environment. Finally, we will gather at the Heritage Hills resort in York to have some learning sessions in the afternoon followed by a social and dinner with a formal program. Our learning session speakers will help us understand how to develop talent, the challenges on-going in our environment, and understand the larger Rotary organization we all enjoy. We are honored to have as part of our conference one of the RI President’s representatives who will be with us throughout the conference and offer some thoughts on Rotary. I look forward to seeing you at one or more parts of our conference. Let’s grow in Rotary together.

 

Thanks for all you do in your club, in your community, and in the world. I’ll see you around the district.

 

DG Fred.