District Governor David Yeghiaian

DG David Yeghiaian thanked us for being Rotarians.  Rotary is what brought us here today.  David joined Rotary 9 years ago to get customers.  After 6 months, he thought about quitting because he did not gain any customers but he enjoyed Rotary.  He attended a PETS training session and realized that Rotary was bigger than his own club and he became more engaged.  He particiapted in a National Immunization Day and volunteered at the local Men’s Clothes Closet.  At the Men’s Clothes Closet, he helped a man who could not start a job without a pair of black pants.  This helped him realize how Rotary helped in his community. 

DG David shared three key goals that clubs should focus on:  memership, service and leadership.  Membership pertains to members sharing their own Rotary story of how they became involved in Rotary and how it changed their life; innovative/flexible membership plans; and corporate/share memberships.  Service is how we change lives by making sure to take advanage of the various grants offered from the District, members making contributions to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and the eradication of polio. The more you contribute to TRF the more there is for grants resulting in larger, more impactful projects. It is expected that there will be 0 cases of polio in 2015 with worldwide certification in 2019.  About $5 billion will be needed to accomplish this and the Gates Foundation and others have already contributed $4 billion.   Leadership means becoming a heart and sole inspired leader (any individual regardless of age, role or title; who embraces their personal strenghs, gifts and passions to postively impact others and change the world), participating in the District Leadership Acacemy (for non Rotarians and Rotarians) and how the District is here to help serve clubs (inverted triangle).  The key is to do whatever is in the best interest of the Club and if innovative/flexible aren’t for your club then start a new club which may incorporate it.

The District 6220 Conference will be held May 1-3, 2014 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. On May 2, keynote speaker will be Jean Irwin and dinner with Mark Murphy, CEO of the Green Bay Packers.  You can register online at:  http://www.ridistrict6220.org/. 

As a way for Rotarians to help Engage Rotary and Change Lives, the District has created a shirt to help explain what we do in Rotary and why others would want to be part of our amazing organization. It is designed to help with one of District 6220's Goals (Membership), while also demonstrating the two other Goals of Service (incorporating the six Areas of Focus) and Leadership.  District leadership has chosen to keep the costs as low as possible to encourage more purchases to have more people wearing the shirts for Membership and PR efforts.  To order one, please go to:  http://www.co-store.com/rotarydistrict6220.