ADG Roger Tessier introduced our DG Mark:
District Governor Mark has been a passionate and engaged Rotarian since 2006 with a wide range of experience at both the club and district levels. With Whitby Sunrise he served as President in 2012, and as Director on several committees including Foundation and the Whitby Ribfest. He feels privileged to have participated in humanitarian service for club projects in Laos, Thailand and Dominican Republic. At the District level, Mark served as chair of 2013 District 7070 Conference, Rotaract Chair, Assistant District Governor, and Chaired the 2017 District Foundation Walk prior to joining the District Governor Team. He has facilitated workshops and breakout sessions related to Public Image, Fundraising and Membership / Grow Rotary at several District Assemblies and President Elect Training events.
Mark has also been very active in the Community having served on the Durham Environmental Advisory Committee, the Brooklin Downtown Development Steering Committee, Durham Big Brothers , 100 Men of Whitby and has been a champion of the RBC Run for the Kids.
Mark is currently a Director in the RBC Technology & Operations group in Toronto. Mark is passionate about sports ( and his beloved Leafs) and travel having had the opportunity to hike and explore the 7 continents. Mark and his wife Leslie have been married 24 years and currently live in Whitby with their 3 cats, Delilah, Brick and Cleo.
DG Mark has talked to about 40 clubs in the District so far this Rotary year. Zoom has been good for Mark.
He welcomed the new members into Rotary and recognized Past RI President Wilf with us today who continues to inspire. Mark remembers Wilf's RI theme in 2008, 'Rotary Shares'.
A brief summary of statistics/ facts: 2020 / 2021 RI President Holger Knaach
There are about 32,000 Rotary clubs world wide, 529 Districts. Our District 7070 is in Zone 28 that includes much of NE US, Ontario and Michigan.
District 7070 has 55 clubs, 9 Rotaract clubs and numerous Interact clubs. We are just shy of 2,000 members.
Rotary in this year of COVID has presented challenges, particularly for businesses and the lives of people. People have been lost and businesses closed. However, Rotary has responded, is adapting and finding ways to help in our communities. DG Mark said Rotary raised $25,000 for HIV Aids this year. We raised million for Bill for Foundation (just shy of US $1million). He highlighted some of the projects and events held this year by the Rotary Clubs of Trenton, Campbellford and Brighton.
Rotary has pivoted, embracing technology, likely 5 years ahead of schedule. The District has been holding on-line events and getting good response, sometimes better turnouts then typical with in person events. Some are working with hybrid models, a little in person as well as on-line. We are adapting and changing. This is good and needed.
As clubs, we have to try new things, then evaluate everything we do. Why do we do what we do, for tradition or does it make sense and does it work?
Paul Harris said: 'If Rotary is to realize its proper destiny, It must be evolutionary at all times, revolutionary on occasion.'
DG Mark said the weekly meeting should not be the focus of Rotary. We need to focus on 'Service'. Review what our clubs do and how we do it.
The Rotary International Vision Statement:
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
District 7070 Strategic Plan for 2020 - 2023 together with Action / Goals: See attached link.
DG Mark encouraged Rotarians to attend the planned District Conference in April 2021, hoping that we can meet in the spring.
DG Mark then presented several Rotary Super Heroes of the clubs gathered today. For Brighton he recognized:
R Emily Jacklyn.
R. Liesje Wagner
R Steve Blakey
Super Hero certificates to follow.
In the midst of chaos, Rotary finds ways to respond. 2020 has been a wake up call, we need to be flexible and adaptable. We need to evolve.