Posted by Anne Decker on Sep 01, 2021
The Lima Rotary Club welcomed District 6600 Governor Mary Aufdenkampe and Assistant Governor Becky Neville.
Rotary District 6600 Governor Mary Aufdenkampe challenged us to be changemakers in our community and across the world. "Rotarians can help people and pull them up out of poverty and depression, and that's what we're challenged to do, to change the world, to help other people, to be a changemaker. This year, be a changemaker. We are going to move beyond these difficult times. We going to move beyond the COVID crisis of 2020. We are going to move forward with fairness and love for one another. We are going to create a world where peace is prevalent. I want to focus on being a true changemaker."
 
Mary says Rotary has built its infrastructure on a three legged stool of foundation, membership and public image. This year, following Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta's leadership, she would like to pull up a second three legged stool and concentrate on the environment; empowering girls and women; and diversity, equity and inclusiveness. She is encouraging clubs to focus on those areas this year and see what they can do to improve each one. Mary says grants will be awarded first to clubs who are proposing projects in those three areas, and to other projects afterwards. 
 
Rotary District 6600 is in the middle of a fundraiser to benefit the Rotary International Foundation. It is raffling off a Mustang electric SUV. Tickets are $100 each. Get details here.
 
Mary urges us to encourage friends and co-workers to join Rotary. President Mehta's goal is to increase Rotary's worldwide membership to 1.3 million from 1.2 million this year. Mary says we can do that by looking at different options for clubs and meetings to make sure we are meeting people's needs and schedules.
 
"I want you to love Rotary like I do. Rotary makes me a better person. I know it can make you a better person too. Let's make Rotary shine. Let's be a changemaker."