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As we prepared for the District Assembly and the training of our future club leaders on April 19th, I am reminded how time passes.
This Rotary Year has been filled with many successes. We have utilized the entire amount of district designated funds for our District Simplified Grants to further clubs’ community and international service projects. There are several Matching Grants being executed now, with even more being planned. Every club, large or growing, has projects that are influencing their communities for the better. Our Rotaract Club at the University of Miami is creating a long term solution to the food shortage issue facing Haiti, even amidst the current turmoil in that nation
We hosted two Rotary Leadership Institutes and our district participation in the RLI continues to grow – by the way, we have another session in May, so please register. And, our pool of future district leadership candidates is at its highest level ever. So much so that a new tri-level Assistant and Associate Governor category is being created by DGN Lee Phares. This has been achieved even though many of our members are facing economic hurdles
However, membership has been impacted during these economically challenging times. Some clubs have grown, while others have seen some drop-off. Even in my own club, where we have inducted many new members, we have also seen others leave due to business issues. I have also struggled to maintain my own commitment to have a net one (+1) in personal sponsorships. So far, I have sponsored three members, though one has already left. This month, a business associate of mine, who also happens to be the son of our own GSE Team Leader and fellow Rotary Club of Weston Rotarian Joe Roth, joined the Rotary Club of Fort Lauderdale-Downtown. I am supporting him in every way possible.
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