Category: District Governor

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month and at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 25, the Peacebuilder Committee of Columbia Metro will present the documentary HOPE ROAD, which focuses on the stories of survivors of human trafficking. Discussion will follow the film and a Rotarian who works with human trafficking victims will be available to answer questions. Since the film will be screened online, Rotarians can watch from their own computer or a club can make this a group event and meet for dinner, watch the film together, and then discuss it.

December is Rotary International’s Disease Prevention and Treatment Month. Rotarians here in District 6080 and throughout the world unite in many ways for disease prevention and treatment with diabetes, polio and other debilitating diseases.

The leaves have begun changing color and much is happening with clubs in District 6080 during November—Foundation month. It has been said that Rotary was started with the efforts of one man, Paul Harris, in Chicago. Every Rotarian’s donation, just one person at a time, can help the Rotary Foundation to impact parts of the world where help is needed
most. Individual donations compiled together with other individual donor gifts provide the financial wherewithal for grants that address community needs in all parts of the world. Giving to the Foundation helps fulfill the commitment of doing good in the world.

Things are happening quickly in the district as we are already into October! Rotary International celebrates October as Community Economic and Development Month, showcasing Rotary Foundation funds and how they are put to use to create sustainable, measurable, and long-term economic changes for localities, communities, businesses, entrepreneurs, and other organizations that need assistance. These efforts are centered around the creation of projects in under-served communities to reduce poverty, improve economic and community development, and also of reducing the stigma of mental health.

September is Rotary International’s  Basic Education and Literacy Month,  a component of Rotary’s fifth Area of Focus which is Supporting Education. Every club can offer support by participating in District 6080’s “Shoes for Orphan Souls” an international project for new shoes collection.

Gordon McInally, Rotary International president, has asked for clubs to work on “Peace through Virtual Exchange,” an area that already has seen progress, using technology to create opportunities to share information with people in countries where there is a need. Virtual Exchange has much potential for developing educational tools to reach young people. There are already social platforms in which there is communication to developing nations. Can Rotary District 6080 create a way to interact with international youth to help shape their education by having virtual contact outside their daily lifestyle?

Hello and welcome to a new year that brings new leaders to the fore with their own unique vision on how they want to lead Rotary, at the club, district and at Rotary International. Rotary International president Gordon McInally is using his theme, “Create Hope in the World,” to make an impact in the many areas he has traveled where people have lost hope in warring countries, areas devastated by natural disaster, and diseases that affected entire countries. As Gordon says: “The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves.”