My dear friends, Rotary leaders, and Rotaract leaders:

A new Rotary year is upon us, and let us say one final thank you to former President Barry Rassin for his outstanding leadership.

 

Barry, we will miss you, but we know and appreciate that you will continue to lead Rotary in important ways for years to come.
I have spoken for several months about how Rotary Connects the World, and the time has now arrived to put our words into action. We have an exciting year ahead of us, a year when we begin to implement the new Strategic Plan, what I call the Rotary Action Plan and when we will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter.  

 

That anniversary will underscore the ties we have and goals we share with the United Nations. We will host five special events—UN Day in New York, three presidential conferences in Paris, Santiago, and Rome, and a final celebration just before the Convention in Honolulu. This will help us achieve the first Action Plan goal of increasing our impact by demonstrating that Rotary’s influence in the world has only just begun.

The second Action Plan goal is expanding our reach. To achieve that, we need to grow Rotary – reaching out to new members, engaging current members, and creating more alternatives for membership for the next generation of Rotarians.

The third goal is enhanced participant engagement, making sure that Rotarians have experiences that are personally and professionally relevant and fulfilling. This is why I believe so strongly in building a more family-friendly Rotary -- one that welcomes children to our activities and that is considerate of families in our scheduling. Let us recommit to putting the needs, expectations, and growth of our participants at the center of all we do.

The final priority of our new Action Plan is increasing our ability to adapt. New approaches to our organizing principles do not threaten our sense of who we are. That is why I believe that Rotary must respect professional commitments and not require Rotary leadership to be a full-time job. We need to respect the time and responsibilities of young people who are building careers.

Together, we will harness the power of connection just as our organization has been doing for more than 114 years. We have a long, proud heritage. And we will continue to thrive because we are not afraid of change.

I look forward to leading you in this important journey, as Rotary Connects the World!

Yours in Rotary,
Mark Daniel Maloney
President, Rotary International 2019-2020
 

Circled in the picture are two familiar faces to many Mesa West Rotarians.  Sandra  (standing) and Hannah are both members and have served as officers of the Westwood High School Interact Club which is sponsored by Mesa West Rotary.  Both young ladies are currently in Africa delivering mobility devices to those in need and enjoying being immersed in the culture.

 

CLICK HERE  to read blog posts submitted by members of the team. 

 

On July 1, the team of six District 5495 Interact Ambassadors and their five Advisors departed from Sky Harbor Airport.  They changed planes in Amsterdam and travelled on to Kenya.  They are due to return to Arizona July 17.  

 

The trip is not all work and no play.  They have seen some species of wildlife that most of us will only see in zoos.  They have learned some African dance steps and taken some strenuous hikes through beautiful terrain.  They are spending two weeks in a way that will have ripple effects throughout their lives with the personal growth and understanding this experience will provide.

 

 

Each Year, on July 1, the leadership in Rotary changes.  Mesa West Rotary Club has a new President - Jim Schmidt.  He is the leader we, as members, will know best.  He will be supported by Rosalyn, who has been by his side for over 42 years.   

 

David Simmer is now the District Governor for District 5495.  He has been preparing for this role since he was selected as District Governor Nominee Designate in 2016-17.

 

Johrita Solari is one of the first two women to serve on the Rotary Board of Directors.  She represents the zone our District is a part of - Zone 26.  Hers is the only two-year position of our new leaders.  To ensure continuity, only half of the directors are new each year. 

 

Mark Daniel Maloney is our new Rotary International President.  Our Past Presidents, Chris Krueger and Ed Koeneman both had the opportunity to hear his remarks at the recent Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany.  He is a member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama.

 

New leadership each year keeps Rotary fresh and full of energy.  The core values of our vision, the areas of focus of The Rotary Foundation, and our four-way-test keep Rotary dynamic, focused and ethically sound.