We had to cancel our fancy lunch celebration at the scenic Oasis Restaurant at the very last minute and switch to my own backyard. It was a nice event and a very proud moment for me and my family. Of course, it was an omen of things to come.
At that time, we had two-thirds of our clubs having no meetings face to face. Some not meeting at all. Restaurants and other meeting locations were shuddered or limited. There was no hint of a vaccine. We kept thinking the crisis would soon be ending, but it just kept getting worse.
Within weeks or months, most clubs figured out how to gather. Most electronically via Zoom, a few face-to-face meetings, and some hybrid meetings. The heart of Rotary was now beating. It progressed slowly. We had to cancel our Foundation Banquet. All training went from live to electronic. Hybrid meetings became more popular and the technology and club experience was improving. To me the turning point was in May at our District Conference at the Kalahari Resort. That was the first district wide meeting we have had in fourteen months! Just days before the start, President Biden and the CDC announced that masks were no longer required in most cases. It was perfect timing. While some still wore masks, we were indeed LIVE, face-to-face.
I want to thank each Club President and all club leaders for their hard work, ingenuity, and persistence this year. You took a really bad situation and made it work. Sure, we have suffered a few bumps and bruises along the way. There is no telling what history will say about our Rotary year and frankly, I am not going to be bothered by that. All we can do is do our best given the circumstances at hand. I am very proud of what you accomplished. We remained focused, we operated safely, and maximized our potential.
Soon to be DG Beverly, is the most organized and prepared Governor Elect I have ever seen. Most everyone that wants to be vaccinated has been. Clubs are running at full throttle and most still offer a hybrid meeting to accommodate those choosing to stay at home. This is a good thing and will probably be here for a long, long time. We have membership momentum with two new clubs. DG Beverly has a war chest of DDF funding that will allow our District to remain strong with Global Grants, DAP Grants, and Scholarships. The District Global Grant that DG Beverly is championing will be a game changer. The events she has planned are going to be spectacular.
Our brightest days are yet to come. We have weathered the storm and will come out stronger in the end. University of Alabama head coach Nick Saben said it this way, “One thing about championship teams is that they're resilient. No matter what is thrown at them, no matter how deep the hole, they find a way to bounce back and overcome adversity.” You did just that and I thank you all.
Sincerely,
Rick Stacy
District Governor 5870
2020-21