NEARING THE END OF THE TRAIL

Have you ever run a 10K, biked a marathon, or taken a long hike? As you approach the end of the trail or the finish line, it is oh-so-tempting to slow down or put on the brakes. It’s a comforting feeling to see your car parked in the parking lot and know you are almost there. The reality is that you aren’t there until you are. So keep your energy flowing to finish this year strong. 2020-2021 will be a year to remember, that’s for sure, and the results coming in across the district are so rewarding to see.

I’d like to acknowledge ALL the clubs who achieved RALLYE Awards, which were based around Rotary’s Core Values of Leadership, Integrity, Diversity, Fellowship, and Service.  Over 50% of our clubs applied and achieved these recognitions. Your core values shine through. Your hearts of service beat strongly.

Congratulations to our Clubs of Excellence: Auburn Gold Country, Nevada City, and Tahoe-Incline, and to our Club of the Year Tahoe-Incline. You really rocked it!

Congratulations to our new 100% Paul Harris Fellow Clubs: Tahoe City and Amador Upcountry. In addition, the following clubs are now 100% Foundation Giving Clubs,averaging $100 or more per member, AND Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY), with each person giving at least $100: Amador Upcountry, Auburn Gold Country, Elko Desert Sunrise, Jackson, Reno Central, Reno South, and South Lake Tahoe. The Fernley Club also achieved the 100% Foundation Giving Award. Many clubs are close to achieving these levels, and you have until the end of June to get those contributions sent in to the Rotary Foundation!  Every dollar to the Foundation makes a differenceand changes lives.

I also want to acknowledge all the clubs who utilized our District Grants to increase the impact and expand the reach of their own dollars in their communities. I can’t name them all here, yet even in these last several weeks, we have clubs taking advantage of our remaining District Designated Funds to help their local areas and residents. Thank you.

I am proud of our district for stepping up to support our colleagues in India in a COVID-19 treatment and relief global grant project that will provide oxygen systems for many who are suffering the devastation of the virus and which will take some of the pressure off of the overburdened hospitals there. We were able to donate $25K of our District Designated Funds towards this heartbreaking situation.

Additionally, I am proud to announce, that in this time of internal divisiveness and worldwide conflict, we are becoming a Global PeaceBuilder District , in support of one of Rotary’s Areas of Focus: Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution.

Thank you to our entire RALLYE Team, led by RALLYE Chair Doug McDonald, for the phenomenal outcome of our virtual RALLYE. It was a full-on choreographed production. In fact, for those who missed it, you can still register, experience, and enjoy it between now and June 30th. Go to  https://tinyurl.com/RALLYE-2021. 

And of course, I need to give a HEARTY thank you and hug to every one of our district leaders: from our Assistant Governors across all 13 areas, to our committee chairs, our district treasurer, secretary, bookkeeper, and all the committee members, as well as our DG line and Past District Governors. There are over 70 people across the district who have stepped up, many/most for three year terms or more, to serve and support our clubs and programs. Certainly, I have to say thank you to our District Executive Assistant, Ginny Lewis, without whom I would have gone bonkers! I have so much respect and appreciation for every one of our district leaders, for their commitment and drive. Thank you.

To ALL of you in District 5190, I appreciate the opportunity and honor to serve this year as your District Governor. In spite of the constraints of the pandemic and the economic difficulties in our communities, you succeeded, you adapted, you survived. While I didn’t get to meet all of you in person during the year, I look forward to those opportunities in the months and years ahead at district events or in visiting clubs to do so. Remember the JOurneY of this year. You showed your strength, which showed me the resilience, determination, and heart of being a Rotarian. It showed me that tough times can truly bring out the best in us.

As we end one year of Rotary and begin a new one, let’s finish strong, then continue with all our pent-up energy to make next year even better.