DISCURSOS - Rotary International

The successful district governor shares experiences and knowledge.
Most governors have experience in service projects, club activities, The Rotary Foundation,
and youth programs that can be shared with presidents, secretaries, and district committees.
Throughout this week you have had many discussions and picked up ideas that can be shared
with your district leaders. An effective governor will share thoughtful and friendly advice with all
of the club and district workers.
A successful district governor gives encouragement and recognizes good work.
Well-deserved recognition is one of the most effective forms of motivation. A public word of
appreciation or a short note of thanks is a vital part of a governor’s leadership skills. Be generous
with your encouragement and be sincere with your praise, and I assure you that you will
have the strongest team your district has ever seen. Recognition is a public form of a governor’s
thoughtfulness.
A successful district governor will develop new leaders to build a stronger district for the future.
Each year, new Rotarians need to grow and blossom into leaders. A district governor is in the
ideal position to observe, discover, and develop future district leaders. So many Rotarians have
latent skills, unknown talents, hidden abilities — and these must be nurtured and given opportunities
to be used for the Rotary of the future. Governors have been given a chance to serve
Rotary, so it is our task to develop our future leadership and teach the skills needed on the path
to service.
In the next few weeks, you will be training and rehearsing your club presidents and district committee
members to be ready for a new performance on 1 July. You will talk about goals for the
year. You will share plans for your official visits. You will analyze your support and decisions about
using Rotary Foundation resources. You will have committees working on a district conference,
membership promotion, and New Generations programs.
The amazing thing is that on 1 July, each one of you will step up to the music lectern, pick up the
maestro’s baton — and your symphony will begin.
Do you hear that soloist? That is you, beginning your visits to the clubs of your district. The music
in the background comes from your committees. Then bring in the Interactors and Rotaractors.
And over here, the Youth Exchange students, and we add them into the theme.
The whole time, you see the district committee considering Rotary Foundation grants. That quiet
group over there is preparing for the district conference. You feel the harmony as each group performs
its mission.
You are still making your club visits. Don’t overlook that Foundation fundraiser. Bring up the tones
of the public relations committee. You are ready to hear the RYLA group.
You are still making your club visits. The emails never stop — on and on and on. The district conference
planning is underway. You hear the promotion for the Rotary International Convention in
Sydney. Your assistant governors give you more reports.
Your club visits are almost finished. You still prepare materials for the monthly district newsletter.
You are ready to introduce a vocational training team from your partner district. You look over to
see if a new club is prepared for its charter. Each section adds more to the musical theme.
You can feel that crescendo in all of the activities — special visits, more committee meetings,
notes of appreciation, Paul Harris Fellow recognitions to be presented, district conference
details. Then come reports on PolioPlus, and more coordination with the governor-elect and
governor-nominee.
International Assembly Speeches 2013 49