Rotary District 6910 Governor Final Msg-June 2017

With over 40,000 attendees, our Rotary International Convention in Atlanta was a huge success.  Approximately 700 from our District 6910 attended, and I believe everyone who attended came away renewed and inspired to continue on in our good work, ready to go the final mile to end polio. If you missed it, take advantage of video captured during the convention; visit rotary.org/video. Even if you were there and saw it live, you might want to see one of the most exciting moments of the convention again. Take a look here: End Polio Now Pledge Highlights.

I'm thrilled to announce that our own Tommy and Chantal Bagwell, Rotary Club of Forsyth County, extended a $1 million challenge gift to End Polio during a meeting with Bill Gates, with the goal of increasing awareness and funding to End Polio. With only six cases of the wild poliovirus year-to-date in 2017, our eye is on zero. The Bagwells, our district's only Arch Klumph Society members, hope that this gift will inspire others to join us in the fight to End Polio.

Chantal and Tommy Bagwell, Rotary Club of Forsyth County, (right) with other Arch Klumph Society members, Rotary International President John Germ, Bill Gates, and Rotary Foundation Trustees Chair Kalyan Banerjee

I want to extend a personal thank you to each of you who have supported The Rotary Foundation during this Centennial year. We have had a record year of giving not only to our Annual Fund, that funds your club's projects, but also to PolioPlus. I hope you will continue to advocate for End Polio and generously give, as you have this year. For until polio is completely eradicated, it is only a plane ride away.

Many people have asked me about what is next for me. Since visiting India and participating in India's National Immunization Day (NID) last January, the fight to end polio has become personal to me. Seeing that this disease, for which there is no cure, ends has become my passion. I will advocate and continue fund-raising for EndPolio. David and I are visiting clubs, sharing a 30 minute presentation on our trip to India and the NID in which we participated. If your club would like for us to visit, we are happy to present; our only ask is that your club makes a contribution to PolioPlus. 

We started the year with a goal of each of our 73 clubs achieving 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club. We ended with 53 clubs having achieved this outstanding accomplishment. Congratulations to the clubs who achieved 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club! And thank you for your generous support of our Rotary Foundation.

Our next opportunity to get together will be at Rotary University at Forsyth's Lanier Tech on Saturday, August 12. I hope you'll make plans to attend. With inspiring speakers, great food and fellowship, I promise it will be a day well spent.  Also, clubs who achieved the Presidential Citation will be recognized along with those clubs who had greatest gains in membership. With the year's final giving to The Rotary Foundation not in until today's end, we will also recognize those clubs with the greatest per capita giving. Club presidents were encouraged to keep up with their club's service hours and the club's financial impact on its community this Rotary year online at Rotary Club Central. It will be exciting to see our district's impact in hours and dollars.

I appreciate the opportunity I have had to serve this beloved district in the Centennial year of our Rotary Foundation. My life is richer as a result of this journey.  Thank you for all you have done this year in Rotary Serving Humanity. Let's continue with District Governor David Cooper, Making a Difference.

Yours in Rotary,


Kim Waters
District Governor