January 9, 2006

By this time, presidents-elect should have been chosen and reported to District Governer-Elect (DGE) Mark Doiron, along with the name of the incoming club secretary. The presidents-elect should be ready to attend the President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) at the Golden Moon Hotel in Choctaw, Mississippi, on March 3.

Jack Forbus of the Starkville Rotary Club was chosen as governor-elect nominee designee for 2008–09. Assuming approval by the nominating committee at the District Conference, Jack will become district governor following Merrell Fischer of the Lexington Club, who in turn will follow DGE Mark Doiron. Congratulations to Jack. He is a leader in his community and will ensure another successful year for District 6820.

Important dates for your calendar:
January 31: Deadline for semiannual report and dues to Rotary International
January 31: Deadline for submitting district dues to the District Treasurer
February 16–24: Rotary School in San Diego for DGE Doiron
March 2: College of Governors, Golden Moon Hotel, Choctaw, Miss.
March 2: Assistant Governor Training, Golden Moon Hotel
March 3: President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS), Golden Moon Hotel
March 4: District Assembly, Golden Moon Hotel
April 27: District Conference, Comfort Suites, Starkville, MS
June 11–14: Rotary International Convention, Denmark and Sweden

District conference registration materials will be mailed by the end of the month. Arrangements have been made for lodging at the Comfort Suites and the Hampton Inn. The regular rate is $90 per night, but conference participants will receive a special rate of $76. To get the special rate, be sure to mention that you are with the Rotary conference when you reserve your room. Contact the Comfort Suites at (662) 324-9595 or the Hampton Inn at (662) 324-1333. The Comfort Suites will be the headquarters for reception and hospitality. The Hampton Inn is nearby.

New members are the lifeblood of any organization. Every member should be encouraged to invite a prospective member to a meeting as a guest. Some clubs set aside a special month during which the club pays half the cost of the visitor’s meal. I still like the old-fashioned way: get a small group of Rotarians together and review a list of community leaders from Chamber of Commerce lists, the Yellow Pages, and other local directories. Then divide up responsibility for contacting those leaders. Do not overlook people who work from home. Many committed community workers are volunteers without employment, and they make great Rotarians!

The Madison-Ridgeland Club is having a huge success with their sale of prints this year. A local artist paints something of local interest, and they offer quality reproductions at $50 each.

The Rotary Katrina Fund has now taken in over $590,000! Some $307,000 in Rotary-directed grants have been made.

How are you doing on Presidential Citation? We are halfway through the Rotary year now. Heading a group of volunteer workers — such as Rotarians — can test your leadership skills. Will your year of leadership be remembered as a horse or a mule?

Yours in Rotary,

Stuart Vance