FogHorn Sept 28, 2017  -  District 5150 Gov. Ron Gin Visits

Ron seems to enjoy all things Star Wars, or is it Star Trek, I am so easily confused. His district pin features a Star Trek motif. Ron touted his new Governor's Bell award which will go to the club that he identifies is doing something stupendously wonderful and new and exciting. He acknowledged Warren for his participation at President-Elect Training and Assistant Governor, our own Mitone Griffiths, who he identified as part of the Rebel Alliance. He told us about the new district directory, he promoted the District Foundation and of course the District Conference on May 4 which will have a Star Wars theme. He talked to us about Ian Risely's theme as the president of Rotary International which is "Rotary making a difference". He spoke about every Rotarian planting a tree by World Earth Day and he noted that Paul Harris planted a tree in Australia. He showed us a video promoting Rotarians as "people of action". Ron pointed out that the number one focus of Rotary international remains ending polio. In the 1940s there were a thousand new cases a day and in the last year there were only 10 new cases. The polio plus program was created in 1985 with the goal of celebrating success at the Rotary Centennial. He told us that at a cost of $1.6 billion, 2.5 billion children had been inoculated. Presently, Rotary has been challenged by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to raise an additional $50 million, which the Gates foundation will match with $100 million.

 

On a district level our foundation donations go to a number of programs including Shelter Box USA, Rotaplast/Alliance for Smiles, Roots of Peace, Mines to Vines (currently applying for a global grant), H2Open Doors (a self-contained water cleansing unit), Rotaract, Interact and Youth Exchange. The district will be sponsoring Lisa Stark, RN as a Global Scholar. The district will be conducting the Potential Rotary Leaders Seminar (PRLS).

 

Ron told us a personal story about how Rotary helped him establish a bond with his daughter. Ron led a club mission to Guatemala to build a "bottle school" and his daughter came along as a volunteer and that experience brought them closer.

 

Ron told us a little bit about our club. We were chartered in 1976 and sponsored by Pacifica and San Mateo. Our first Rotary female was Dr. Joy Enriquez, who joined the club shortly before Rotary international dropped the proscription against women in Rotary. Our small club has produced two district governors. Our demographics are perfect, 50-50 male/female. 34 of our 44 Rotarians are Paul Harris Fellows. 25 members of the club are Rotary Direct contributors, which is the highest percentage in the district.

 

Ron concluded by pointing out that we "join for service and stay for fellowship and fun". He then showed us a slide presentation that had been set to music and personalized to depict our club engaged in Rotary activities over the last year. This was very well received.