In The Home Stretch -  No Coasting From Here

By Pat and Skip Doyle

Someone said to us recently, "Isn't it wonderful you are now in the home stretch.
You can coast from here." We guess they don't know District 7910. Just last week alone, we attended an Opiod Addiction Task Force meeting, and we missed a very successful Book Launch held by the Shrewsbury and Worcester Rotary clubs.
 
Last Thursday, we attended the Worcester Rotary meeting, and were honored to present two Paul Harris awards and six Major Donor awards, and to honor nine new and additional members of the Bequest Society (see photo of recipients, below). There are 42 new Bequest Society members in 2017! No other year had more than three - and five of the 42 are from the Worcester club. Congratulations to one and all!
 
Later that same evening, we attended the 75th anniversary celebration of Groton-Pepperell Rotary. It was a well-attended event on a lovely evening at the Rivercourt Residences in Groton.
 
Last Saturday evening, we attended the Casino Night at the Tatnuck Country Club, sponsored by Worcester Rotary.
 
Our district never rests - we are always busy with fundraisers, service projects, and celebrations. Two reminders: Register and pay now for the Million Dollar Journey Dinner to benefit The Rotary Foundation, on May 25; and, be sure sign-up to volunteer for maybe the Best RYLA Evah, on June 23, 24 and 25.
 
District 7910 Business Meeting on April 29 was Well-Attended
 
A resolution was unanimously approved, allowing immediate past presidents of Rotary clubs to serve on the District Nominating Committee. To read the new procedure, click here.
 
Shown, below, left to right: District Parliamentarian Steve Sager and District Secretary Michelle Gasbarro look on as District Governors Skip and Pat Doyle explain the new nominating procedure, which takes effect this July 1.
 
 
Coming Soon: Million Dollar Journey Dinner
 
To register now for this wonderful celebration on May 25 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, click here.
 
The quote, "Be careful what you wish for," comes to mind - along with the ending, “Because you might get it.”  We wished for one million new dollars in donations or pledges for The Rotary Foundation in 2016-2017, and we got it - and more - thanks to the work of our Major Donor Gift Committee under the extraordinary leadership of Chair Satya Mitra. So far, we've raised more than $1.1 million in donations and pledges. Our goal is to reach the $1.5-million mark by this May 25 - and the $2-million milestone by June 30, 2018.
 
Thank you, Satya, and all who made this happen!
 
Four important things to know:
 
1. The weekly submission deadline for the Newsletter is Friday. As usual, text content must be submitted in Word format, and image content, in either JPEG or PDF format. Continue to submit your content to Immediate Past District Governor/Newsletter Editor Jim Fusco at jim.fusco2@gmail.com.
 
2. Rotary Youth Leadership Awards: The RYLA Club Pack has been updated and posted on RYLA7910.org. When you download it, you will notice changes from last year. Please read the material carefully and direct your questions to Christine Pinney, chair of the RYLA Committee,who may be reached at chair@ryla7910.org. The RYLA Committee is working to make RYLA 2017 the "best RYLA ever." Be sure to sign-up to volunteer. In this issue's "RYLA Right Now," read more.
 
3. Club Planning Worksheet: To download the Club Planning Worksheet, click here.This worksheet is made available to clubs so they can gauge their progress in achieving the goals they set last July.  This month is a good time to review the worksheet and see how far you have come and how much farther you need to go as a club. You may surprise yourselves and realize that you are well on the way to earning district recognition. We recommend the club president appoint the president-elect to be the "champion" of the Worksheet, and to use it as a guide for the club, and to report monthly to the club's membership and board on the club's progress.
 
4. As your district governors, we have resolved to:
  • Revisit as many clubs as possible by this June 30
  • Help our clubs achieve the goals they set last July
  • Do all we can to build membership in the district
  • Plan a grand event to celebrate our Million Dollar Journey
  • "Move the ball forward," in harmony with District Governor-Elect Karin Gaffney, District Governor-Nominee Steve Sager and District Governor-Nominee-Designate Pamela Anastasi
District Governors Pat and Skip Doyle (shown, right) may be reached at pwdoyle2@verizon.net and skipdoyle2@verizon.net, respectively.
 
Click here to submit content for the Tuesday, May 16  issue. The submission deadline for this issue is Friday, May 12.