Happy New Year 2019!

January 2019

As we often do when we turn our calendars from December to January, I’ve been reflecting on an incredible five months as Rotary International District 6560 Governor.

It really all started when I traveled with the other District Governors Elect to San Diego for our International Assembly. I sat on the front row with friends who were incoming District Governors from Brazil, for the unveiling of our new Rotary Theme for 2018-2019. When we heard the words, BE THE INSPIRATION, I was overwhelmed with joy and filled with the responsibility of carrying our theme throughout District 6560, Central Indiana.

We began to build the INSPIRATION in Effingham, Illinois, with our fun-filled and power-packed Presidents- Elect Training Seminar (PETS), where we set the tone for this incredible year. Soon after, we came together at Camp Rotary in Crawfordsville to be INSPIRED by our Leadership Team 6560 and were introduced to the many exciting opportunities to serve in our amazing District. Many of you joined me in Muncie for our kick-off events in June and were INSPIRED by Paul Harris, James Whitcomb Riley, President Abraham Lincoln, Madam CJ Walker, Johnny Appleseed, and President Benjamin Harrison. You have INSPIRED me again and again as I’ve traveled to Rotary clubs and Rotary events across Central Indiana. Vice Governor Dottie Hancock announced a Rotary Foundation matching-points campaign at the INSPIRATION CONFERENCE AND AWARDS SHOW, in early November. And in just six short weeks, you helped raise nearly $70,000 for the annual fund. You are the INSPIRATION that will allow children around the globe to drink clean water, to attend school on war torn borders, to run without fear of polio.

And we’re just getting started. Watch for details about the Presidents-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) in mid-March, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) in mid-March, Rotary District 6560 High School Speech Contest in late March, our District Conference in April (#DistCon19), and The Hamburg Rotary International Convention in June.

DON’T MISS A MINUTE!

Dale Basham
Rotary International District 6560 Governor, 2018-2019