District Governor Dave Underhill, referring to his background in broadcasting, started by telling us he would be using the District Governor’s timing module to track time as he recognizes that Rotarians' time is valuable.
Dave used a simple banner, showing the Rotary International six areas of focus, all forming a pyramid, telling us that the pyramid supports world peace.
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• Disease prevention and treatment
• Water and sanitation.
• Maternal and child health.
• Basic education and literacy.
• Economic and community development.
• Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
Rotary is a peace organization. Rotary was part of the founding of the United Nations, and has continued working for world peace ever since.
There were only 7 polio cases in the world last year. This has been a tremendous achievement by Rotary and others, and the efforts will continue until the work is done.
Clean water represents a challenge for people who live away from us, but Dave gave several examples of where clean water has been a challenge in several areas of New England. Rotary International and Portland Rotary continue to work on this challenge.
Maternal and child health affects many people in our district, as well as around the world. Portland Rotary, through its Childhood Health and Education (CHE) program, is working locally to address this challenge. Our program also supports the basic education and literacy focus.
District 7780 had an excellent speaker, Bob McKenzie, at the last District Conference, who talked about the devastating effect of drug addiction. Bob spoke of the impact of substance misuse disorder, now a recognized medical condition. The District decided that we need to tackle this issue. Bob will chair a new committee (Recovery Initiative), with a mandate to make things better. Each club is invited to take on one piece of the problem. Dave gave the example that Portland could extend its high school mentoring to someone in a program of recovery. The task force comprised of this committee will be collecting best practices and getting new ideas. We are invited to join the task force...we can make a difference to someone.
Dave outlined a second challenge to the club, to build our own Pyramid of Peace. Dave says that Portland Rotary is already working in most areas and asked us to do one more thing, keep track of hours and funds raised. Dave wants to report on work and dollars at the five-district conference to be held next spring and says that telling the story of hours contributed is a powerful message to the public.
The District has a variation on Public relations this year. Clubs are partnering to tell stories together to increase the effectiveness. Dave encouraged us to participate directly or through our Assistant Governor, Bill Anderson.
Portland Rotary, through President Don Zillman, has committed to a net addition of 15 members to our club. Dave encouraged us to not only invite people to meetings, but also invite them to come help with service projects.
DG Dave asked our members to consider joining him and others, by adding a bequest to Rotary Foundation, saying it’s a way to have our good work continue after we are gone. Anyone interested can contact Dick Hall, Foundation Chair, Amy Chipman, the retiring Foundation Chair, or President Don Zillman.
Dave has asked Portland Rotary to plant 150 trees in the next year supplied by District 7780. Rotary is tied together as a social network to take action and make a difference. Rotarians see problems as opportunities and challenges, which we can overcome together.
Q&A: Gracie Johnston shared that the Portland Rotary Community Service Committee is already planning to work on the substance abuse issues. President Don asked how we can help other clubs, and Dave suggested we could offer partnering, offer talents in water projects, and invite other clubs to work together on common projects. When goaded by the audience on the membership competition between Portland and Portsmouth during 2016-17, Dave committed to staying neutral, like Switzerland, this year. Joking aside, he said that Past President Bowen Depke’s challenge was good for both clubs and he appreciated the continued growth..JPG)
(Photo L-R: Assistant Governor Bill Anderson, President Don Zillman, District Governor Dave Underhill and Linda Underhill.)