DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE - JANUARY 2017

 

2016 really flew by quick. We’re now into a new year and like every new year it brings hope and dreams and goals. I truly wish you and your loved ones an amazing 2017.

 

By the end of 2016 I was also able to complete all the club visits and got home to spend time with my family.

 

We’re now into the second half of the Rotary year. A big shout out to the Club of the Month winners for December – Rotary Clubs of St Croix, St Maarten Midisle, and East Nassau. Great stuff!

 

January is Vocational Service Month. And it is also when we also recognize Rotary Fellowships. I am quite passionate about both Vocational Service in Rotary and the various fellowships that Rotary has for all of us.

 

I love the fact that we are all classified into Rotary – I love the fact we all bring something to the table – we are all good at something – we all have some skillset we can use to help those less fortunate through Rotary Projects.

 

The founder of Rotary, Paul Harris, said, “Of all the one hundred and one ways in which men can make themselves useful to society, undoubtedly the most available and often the most effective are within the spheres of their own occupations.” Vocational Service is the means for Rotary to develop and support Rotarians as they apply the ideal of service in their occupations. Vocation is the essence of Rotary. This is why Vocational Service is referred as the bedrock and the shining principle of Rotary”

I often use this analogy to describe the avenues of service and more specifically to explain the importance of Vocational Service:

So Think of a Tree. A Rotary Tree - the root is Club Service, the trunk is Vocational Service, the branches and leaves are Community Service and International Service, and the flowers and fruits is The Rotary Foundation & Youth Service.

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