Posted by DG Sue Bellor on Sep 01, 2017
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
On my continued journey, and having made several official club visits, I have been treated with warm welcomes, hospitality, good humor, and have witnessed your eagerness to work in partnership.  While I continue to fill my calendar with my official club visits, I want to remind Rotary Club Presidents to work with their officers and directors to plan for earning The Rotary Citation (containing 3 prioritized areas with goals); it actually is more flexible and attainable.
In just a few weeks we will be “Celebrating our Service” at our annual District Conference 2017 chaired by PDG Bonnie Black. Many Rotarians are involved to bring you an inspiring program that reflects our service, our membership, our foundation and our youth. It will be held at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort in Hogansburg, New York September 29-30 with Grants management October 1st. Register soon at the link on this website. (The first 125 registrants will receive a Limited Edition Theme Keepsake Memento). Thank you for your sponsorship ads and yes, let us know what your club plans to donate for the Silent Auction which supports the Rotary Foundation. You may contact Darcy Sharpe at: lovingpc2000@yahoo.com. You can also see more about the conference at our website; just click the DisCon17 logo on the top right of your screen.
 
I would like to add that while we try to avoid all major holidays for the 3 monotheistic religions in our District when scheduling districtwide events, whether they be celebrations or trainings, we are also constrained by other factors including availability of venue. We realize that this year’s District Conference includes the holiest of days in the Jewish year, and apologize to our Jewish Rotarians for excluding them from any participation at this year’s event.
 
Rotarians are still asking, “Can I still make a commitment and attend our District’s Legacy Million Dollar Dinner in Ottawa on November 4th featuring Rotary International Director Jennifer Jones?” “Yes, of course you can.” Just contact PDG Nabil Oudeh or myself or anyone on our team; or just click the coin on this website page and find out more. Thank you to all current attendees who have made commitments to The Rotary Foundation.
 
Our District leadership continues now to seek our district governor for 2020-2021; please see the application HERE. Interviews will be conducted October 28th, location to be determined. This new leader will be our District Governor Nominee Designate for 2017-2018 and begin their 3 year rotation into their year as our future district governor. Please consider this very important role to maintain continuity within our district. If you believe your club has this future leader of our district, please encourage them to apply.
 
PDG Ariane Carriere needs an assistant to chaperone students for the annual Interact Trip to Guatemala. Please step up and help Ariane and visit THIS PAGE to see the Common Hope Vision Team information. In addition the Interact/Earlyact planning meeting in our district will be on October 14th (9:301:30) in Cornwall and you can register at the district website.
 
District Scholarship Chair Katie Burke is currently organizing a translation committee and seeking more help. In the pursuit to provide translations to French for all that we want to share, we do need some bilinguals to help us. We are a district of more than one language and want to respect this diversity with our French speaking fellow Rotarians and friends. Please contact Katie.
I want to remind you that District Governor Elect Martha Weaver along with District Governor Nominee/Leadership Training Chair Gerry Lambert and their team are actively planning for President Elect Training Seminar and District Training Assembly, and are open to your input.
 
Kind regards,
 
Sue Bellor
DG 2017-2018
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