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Dear Rotarians,
As newsletter editor I am using my "power" and taking over some of the space used for the Governor's message. John's final message is below. I am stunned as I work on this newsletter, knowing it is the last newsletter for this Rotary year. The time has gone by so fast and I want to take this opportunity to thank the Club Presidents and PR Chairs for submitting such wonderful information this year. I hope that the newsletter has been something positive for you as we tried to showcase all of the clubs' accomplishments and goals for this year. I was amazed every month at all that is done - I knew, but what a great reminder all of the emails were for me. Congratulations Club Presidents and Rotarians on a year well done!
Thank you again for all of your efforts this year. Speaking for me (and I know John too) it has been the experience of a lifetime to work so closely with you and your clubs. I will never forget the kindness shown to me, and to Charlie, as we attended as many of the visits and events as we could. I know it isn't the norm to come in with a stroller, toys, books, and a diaper bag, but Charlie was so warmly welcomed at each and every event - you will never know how much it was appreciated and how much it has helped shape him into a child that loves people, new experiences, and his Rotary friends. John and I treasure the friendships that we have made during this journey and we know there are more wonderful experiences to come!
Congratulations, again to all of the Club Presidents! And, welcome and congratulations to the President Elects! I look forward to working with you during the upcoming Rotary year because DG Kathryn has asked me to continue as newsletter editor. If it is anything like this last one, it will be fantastic! My best wishes to DG Kathryn and John as they begin an experience they will remember forever!
Fondly,
Christie
Now .. on to the Governor's Message!
Remarks made by DG John Adams at the Installation Ceremony
of DG Kathryn Hardman
July 28, 2012 in London, Kentucky …
As they say here in southeastern Kentucky, stick a fork in
John Adams… he is done! Some say I was done
a long time ago, I just never finished. Because of the Rotary Calendar this year, a
conference in mid- April and the RI convention in early May, I feel like I have
had a lot of time to stew on the stove over the last six weeks.
Let me get right to the point, Kathryn as Governor you serve
the Clubs and the Rotarians. It is a wonderful experience.
The only practical advice I can give you is this:
1.
Your hotel key card from Wednesday night’s stay
at the Courtyard in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky will not work Thursday afternoon at
the Fairfield Inn in Ashland, Kentucky.
2.
If you stay in Hazard, Kentucky, stay at the Mountain
Inn. You get 10% off your food if you take your hotel card key to El Azure
Restaurant which is across the parking lot.
I highly recommend the Hawaiian Quesadilla.
3.
This piece of advice is from actually from
Christie [wife of 2011-12 Governor John] for John Strojan [Husband of 2012-13
Governor Kathryn], when hotel card keys fall out of Kathryn’s pockets on to the
counter at the drycleaners, don’t try to explain to the person working the
counter if he or she is uncomfortable with the situation – they don’t know what
a Rotary Governor is or why they have so many hotel card keys in their pockets.
You know what you should to do is act shocked and surprise and storm out of the
place feigning suspicion of an affair. Make sure to tell everyone if you do and
we will all watch the London Topix forum to see if you really pulled the act
off well.
Speaking of hotel card keys, let me bestow upon you about 30
keys to the finest hotel rooms in Eastern Kentucky. We had a lot of extra hotel stays because the
need for afternoon naps after noon Rotary Club meetings; not Charlie’s, our two
year old’s, need for a nap but because of my own need of a nap.
Back to my point, Kathryn as Governor you serve the Clubs
and the Rotarians, it is very rewarding.
I hope in return I left the District better than I found it.
I know can say this; I did replace the old plain chrome rod on the “Home Club
of the District Governor” banner after April’s District Conference. Nothing
projects the power and prestige of the office of District Governor like the new
faux bronze acorn finials now adorning the banner! Rotary Club of London members, you will find
out the practical purpose of the home club banner in mid- September when you
begin look up at the banner and say to yourself, “Oh yes, I remember Kathryn, I
wonder how she is doing?”
London and Corbin area Rotarians, I promise you will hear
from Kathryn when it comes time to plan and prepare for the District
Conference. All kidding aside, do plan
on being part of District Conference next April. It is good for your club, it
is good for London/Corbin, it is a lot of fun, and Kathryn and John will
greatly appreciate it. You suggested her
for District Governor; it’s the least you can do after doing that to her – er,
I mean after bestowing that honor upon her.
Let me make the point, Kathryn as Governor you serve the
Clubs and the Rotarians.
It is very educating to see the many different ways our Clubs
serve their member Rotarians, their communities, and the world. It is amazing
how many ways you can “do” a Rotary Club meeting. It takes some getting used to
always being in the front of the room at meetings that are all different. Some
clubs sing, and some clubs do not sing.
Some clubs are formal, some are casual. Some club meetings are high in
pomp and circumstance, and some are like a large board meeting with little
ceremony. There are four ways to recite
the four way test. Anticipating what to do next at a Rotary Club as a visiting
Governor is an acquired skill.
Some days you will give your governor’s speech and believe
from the reaction you are the greatest public speaker since Ronald Reagan, and some
days you will wonder if the audience heard you and agreed with anything. Speaking of Reagan, a US President we all know
is near and dear to Kathryn’s heart [sarcasm], I must apologize publically for
what I did to Kathryn back in January. When
she was at Governor‘s training in San Diego California and then Rotary
International President Elect Sakuji Tanaka had just announced the theme of
“Peace through Service” for Rotary Year 2012-13, I texted Kathryn the word,
“Peace”. Kathryn texted me back “I guess you got the word, Peace through
Service”. To which I replied, “Reminds me of Reagan’s ‘Peace through Strength’”
Then I texted the “tongue and cheek” emoticon.
Kathryn’s reply “Oh Please …”. I apologize now because we have both
confused the new Rotary theme and the old political slogan every since.
As I was saying,
Kathryn as Governor you serve the Clubs and the Rotarians, in doing so you will
be impressed by the Rotarians you work with.
All Rotary District Governors have predecessors who will
give then advice, whether it is asked for or not. Lucky Governors have a
successor whom they can they can turn to for support. Because of your good
advice and support, Kathryn, I was one of the few lucky ones. DGE 2013-14 Jack
McAllister and DGN 2014-15 John Salyers, you have some large “flats” to fill as
successor Governors. Given the
circumstances, I will not be able to reciprocate the support Kathryn gave me as
my successor; I hope you will. Not only is it important to the sitting
Governor, it is good for the District’s clubs.
As Kathryn has shown, there is no better way to prepare for your own
year as Governor, then to help-out the year(s) before “your” July 1 comes.
Finally and in summary, Kathryn as Governor you serve the
Clubs and the Rotarians.
May you and John get as much out of being Governor as
Christie, Charlie and I have.
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| DG Kathryn Hardman and John Strojan - all District Rotarians wish you a successful and rewarding DG year! |
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| DG 2014-2015 John Salyers, DG 2013-2014 Jack McAllister, DG Kathryn Hardman and soon to be PDG John Adams. A great leadership team for the future of District 6740! |
