Governor's Message - May 23, 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Wow! What A Great District Conference!
 
By Jim Fusco
 
WOW! What a GREAT District Conference! Thank you to Conference Chair Karin Gaffney and her committee of 30 for organizing this great event.
 
(District Governor Nominee Karin Gaffney is shown, right, with her arms outstretched posing with DG Nominee Designate Steve Sager on Saturday aboard the Pilgrim Belle in Plymouth Harbor - a la Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio.) 
 
(Shown, left, are: District Governors-Elect Skip and Pat Doyle, DG Jim Fusco and Karen Fusco of Fitchburg Rotary.)
 
While I will now mention a few highlights of the conference, the real details, lots more photos plus videos will be included in next week’s newsletter.
 
First, a quick recap of last week. On Tuesday, I attended the joint Awards Banquet held by Fitchburg Rotary and Fitchburg East Rotary. On Wednesday I attended Littleton Rotary’s meeting. Then, I was off to the District Conference in Plymouth, which took place Friday through Sunday. This will be a quiet week for me as I close out the books for the DISCON 2016.
 
DISCON ’16 facts:
  • 238 people attended the District Conference, including members of Plymouth Rotary and Past District Governor Joe Clancy of District 7950, which includes Plymouth.
  • 40 clubs were represented
  • Program Book had 39 ads: Thanks to all
  • 33 displays in the House of Friendship (HOF)
  • 64 people attended the District 7910 Business Meeting with 36 clubs represented
  • 194 people attended Friday night’s Paul Harris Dinner.
  • 90 people attended Saturday morning’s Fellowship Breakfast.
  • 90 people attended Saturday morning’s Taste of Rotary.
  • 11 people played golf while 65 people took the harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle on Saturday afternoon.
  • 160 people attended Saturday night’s Awards Dinner.
  • 46 people attended Sunday morning’s Memorial Service.
  • $4,180 was raised by the Silent Auction. 40 clubs donated Silent Auction gifts. This money goes to Foundation. You did Bid Often-Bid High.
  • 8 Clubs hosted "Hospitality Sweets"
DISCON 2016 Highlights: 
  • Rotarians of the Year: Coordinator of Assistant Governors Dick Andersen of Littleton Rotary, and District Newsletter Editor/Webmaster Steve Jones-D’Agostino of Auburn Rotary
  • Club of the Year: Concord Rotary
  • Service Above Self Award: District Trainer/PDG Klaus Hachfeld of Sturbridge Rotary
  • Citation for Meritorious Service: District Foundation Chair Roy Balfour of Shrewsbury Rotary
  • Excellence Award: District Secretary Michelle Gasbarro of Montachusett Area Rotary
  • Vocational Leadership Award: Karen Jacobs of Brookline Rotary
  • Polio Service Award: Dr. Carl Good III, PhD, of Merrimack Valley Rotary
  • Spouse/Partner Service Award: Les Davis (husband of Auburn Rotary President Marcia Davis and “First Dude” of that club)
  • White Sneaker Award: Karin Gaffney
Many other awards, certificates and banner-recognition patches were also presented. They will be listed in detail in next week’s newsletter.
 
Click here for DISCON '16 photos by Cheryl Rosen of Hudson Rotary, who is also district archivist. (Shown, left to right, are: Past District Governor Klaus Hachfeld of Sturbridge, recipient of this year's Service Above Self Award; Governor Jim Fusco; and Klaus' wife and fellow Sturbridge Rotarian, Glenys Hachfeld.
 
In other District 7910 information of note:
 
Global Scholars: Newton Rotary will host Global Scholar Tatsuya Hayase, from Japan, sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Nagoya-South and Nagoya Meito. Hayase will be attending Brandeis University. Thank you, Newton President Indira Desai.
 
RYLA Volunteers Needed: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is only five weeks away. While the program is being finalized, we now need volunteers. RYLA Vice Chair Christine Pinney asks that as, a rule of thumb, a club should have two volunteers for each RYLA student they are sponsoring. To volunteer, click here.
 
District Banners: Our district banners were prominently displayed at the District Conference.  If you have an upcoming event or fundraiser and want to reserve one of the banners, please contact PR Chair Laura Spear at laura@spear.net.
 
We are having a great year!
 
Jim Fusco, 2015-2016 governor of District 7910, may be reached at  jim.fusco2@gmail.com.