August was a busy, busy month for everyone - - - last minute vacation time before school starts, busy work activities and many, many Rotary opportunities to serve. A group of thirteen District 5830 Rotarians and friends traveled to on-going mission work in Guatemala to assist with health screens, review potential new projects and celebrate completion of new facilities provided by joint efforts of Domestic and International Rotary Clubs. PDG Carroll and Longview Rotarian Mary Greenwaldt led the group which included two physicians - - - a Dentist (Dr. Carter Hallmark from the Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake) and an Orthodontist (Dr. Mike Scott from the Rotary Club of Longview). Many “follow-up” presentations have already been requested by District 5830 Rotary Clubs to hear more about the awesome “service efforts”.In August, I visited Lindale, Longview Greggton, West Bowie, Hugo, Idabel, Antlers, Gilmer, Athens, and Overton Rotary Clubs. To say that “I am impressed and honored to be associated with District 5830” is a big understatement. All the clubs that I have visited have worked hard to elect club officers, establish 2024-2025 goals, plan fund raising projects, and welcome me with wide open arms! Many thanks to all the visited clubs - - - with 13 visits completed, I am almost one third through the planned “initial round” of DG visits for 2024-2025.
I continue to end each club visit with a personal challenge:
- Expand Rotary locally and internationally
- Increase your Service to Others
- Leave a Lasting Legacy
Start where you are!
Use what you have!
Do what you can!
During August, we established a 2024 Rotary Foundation Committee to plan, organize and provide the Foundation Dinner on October 26, 2024 in Tyler, TX. The planning committee, which includes District 5830 Rotarians Terri Deike, Brandie Henderson, Pamela Walters, and Trudy Williams, is working with our District Administrator, Shirley Pinnix-Evans to make the 2024 event a big success. District 5830 Assistant Governors are working with their assigned District 5830 Rotary Clubs to secure “silent auction” items for the dinner. District 5830 Past District Governors will be reaching out to individual, group, and company sponsors. Please watch your mail sources for a “save the date” and associated Foundation Dinner plans.
Please remember - - - it is never to early to make plans and REGISTER for the Rotary International Convention which will be in Calgary, Canada June 21-25, 2025. If you’ve never been to a Rotary International Convention, the 2025 Canada event would be a great time to expand your horizon and see how Rotarians from around the world SERVE SERVE SERVE!
Thanks for allowing me to SERVE as your DG for 2024-2025
Jeff W Johnston
