My Dear Family of Rotary District 9213,
What a start!
The first quarter of our Rotary year is done, and I want to say a sincere thank you for the energy, the warm welcome, and the impact you have already created.
Clubs across the District have been engaged in a plethora of life-changing community projects. And I am delighted that road safety is now firmly on the lips of every one of us.
In just 90 days, we have officially launched the Rotary Year with renewed hope under RI President Olayinka Hakeem Babalola’s theme: Create Lasting Impact.
I have visited over 60 clubs, and what I have seen is truly inspiring — projects that will outlive us, membership full of passion, and communities that genuinely feel Rotary.
I have felt the full force of Rotary. I have reviewed club goals, listened to your plans, and seen the passion in the eyes of Rotarians and Rotaractors. The road ahead is clearly exciting. My challenge to all clubs is to turn those goals into realities.
We have also started strong on our Foundation. We have celebrated new Major Donors and Paul Harris Fellows, and the growth in sustaining members and Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) is heart-warming. With each dollar we give this Rotary year, we increase the number of lives touched by our generosity. We open new frontiers, expand our reach, and increase our presence in the community. Each time you look at your recognition pin, know that it represents the smiling faces of those whose lives have been changed by your big heart.
To appreciate your generosity, every donor in the District will be recognized — two special pin categories for those giving a minimum of $100 and $500 to The Foundation, and a beautiful wristband for all donors.
Friends, my message this quarter is simple: Impact is not about activity; it is about what remains after we leave. Sustainable projects that will still be standing years from now. A child who stays in school because we paid her fees. A health centre that saves mothers because we equipped it. That is Lasting Impact.
In quarter two, I ask us to focus on four things:
1. Membership with Purpose: Invite one guest who shares your passion. Membership remains our number one internal priority — it is core to everything we do. Each new member brings new ideas, more hands, more resources, and more compassion. There are many potential Rotarians waiting to be invited.
2. Give to The Foundation: Every Rotarian, Every Year — at least $25. Our District Designated Funds depends on it. Our fight against polio hinges on our giving. The future of our Foundation lies in our generosity. Let us make history as a District where every Rotarian and Rotaractor is a donor. Let each of us say, “I will not be the one who denies D9213 the opportunity to create history.” Let us make this a legacy year.
3. Take Rotary to the Community: That is the only place where Rotary has true meaning. Let every club implement at least one community project aligned to our 7 Areas of Focus.
4. Tell our Story: No one can tell our story better than us. A story of a community having clean water for the first time in generations. A story of a disadvantaged child being given an opportunity to stay in school. A story of our relevance in the lives of millions of people.
I am proud to be your District Governor. Let us keep the momentum. Let us continue to inspire, to give, and to serve.
Together, we will Create Lasting Impact.