Spring arrived last month but the weather is finally catching up. It has been a wonderful weekend and we hope the improving weather will serve us well when we get to Gettysburg early in May. We have some 230 people registered for the District Conference and we have had to add a fourth bus for the battlefield tour on March 4th . Everyone is excited that our RI President’s Representative will be Valarie Wafer of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. A past district governor in D7070, Valarie has been elected to serve as a Rotary International Director beginning in 2020/2021.
I am pleased to report that I have finally completed visiting all the clubs in our new district. April 3rd was the final visit among 85 clubs and 88 visits since some clubs meet more than once. It has been an inspiring journey of more than 5,000 miles where I have met many, many Rotarians and Rotaractors working together to create lasting change locally and globally under the umbrella of Rotary. It was a trip worth taking and I am pleased you afforded me the opportunity to serve, learn and be inspired.
In May some of us will gather in Gettysburg for the District Conference. It will provide us with Rotary information, fun and fellowship as well as a chance to visit a town that plays an important role in our history. There is still time to get registered if you would like to join in the fun.
The other Rotary event in May is the District Training Assembly on Monday, May 13th at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Berkeley Heights. This afternoon through dinner event will provide more training for club officers, committee chairs, and other Rotarians who would like to attend. The event is on the district website at njrotary.org for more information and to register. It is solid preparation for the new Rotary year that begins July 1st. I hope you consider attending.
Next month I will share with you all the honors that clubs earned and were presented at the District Conference. The list is long and the awards are great. Until then, please keep doing what you have been doing. It has been an excellent year thus far.
John
