Posted by Susan Bellor, District Governor on Jul 01, 2017
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
A new Rotary year has begun and a new journey ahead is always filled with hope, plans, and excitement. Congratulations and best wishes are extended to all 7040 Club Presidents, Area Governors and District Chairs.
 
As we all start out in 2017-2018, I want to thank now Past District Governor Nabil Oudeh for a job well done. I wish Nabil the best as he is now setting the plans to be Vice General Chair of the Rotary Zone Institute in Montreal in fall 2018. When he asks you to help, please say, “yes”.
 

In our journey together as volunteers, I would like to share with you a few items. First, Webmaster Roger Black is making some adjustments to our district website; and will continue to make it more user friendly as we proceed. For example, my governor’s calendar along with club visits can be found under the Calendars tab on the main navigation menu. In addition, each month we will showcase some district leaders with their profiles under Rotarians Making a Difference which also aligns with Rotary International President Ian Riseley’s theme of Rotary: Making a Difference. We are all dedicated leaders but also have professional and personal interests we would like to share.
 
While I continue to fill my calendar with my official club visits, I want to remind you of one important goal and some district events. Club presidents are encouraged 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 and I am inspired to see many if not all clubs earn this R.I. Presidential Award.
 
Our District Conference theme is “Celebrating our Service” and many 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 (the first 125 registrants will receive a Limited Edition Theme Keepsake Memento).
 
Our district’s Legacy Million Dollar Dinner will be held November 4th  at the Ottawa Convention Center. Thank you to all current attendees who have made commitments to The Rotary Foundation. Please show your support to help and serve others through our foundation; just click the coin on this website and find out how.
 
District Scholarship Chair Katie Burke has additionally volunteered to help with organizing a translation committee. 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.
 
Before closing this first message of my year, serving as your district governor, I want to extend best wishes to District Governor Elect Martha Weaver as she has many plans leading to her President Elect Training Seminar and District Training Assembly, and to District Governor Nominee Gerry Lambert as he begins his training at his first zone institute this year and as he leads the Learning Development Team.  Our district leadership continues now to seek another governor for 2020-2021; you can download 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 his/her 3 year rotation into their year as our future district governor. Please consider this very important role to maintain continuity within our district.
 
Kind regards,
 
Sue Bellor
DG 2017-2018