Convention

President-nominee's letter to district governors-nominee

Dear RI district governors-nominee,

I'm pleased to report that an early meeting for your class of district governors has been scheduled for the 2009 RI Convention in Birmingham, England, which will be the first time for a meeting of DGNs at an RI Convention.

The first purpose of the meeting is to give us an early chance to meet each other, as well as the members of the 2010-11 RI Board, several months before the 2010 International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. Experience shows that virtually all of our district governors make several lifelong friends in their class of governors, and the Birmingham convention will provide an outstanding opportunity for you to begin the process of friendship and fellowship within your class.

The second purpose is to share some new ideas that I hope some of you will be interested in trying in your districts on an experimental basis and to hear some of the new ideas that you are planning to utilize during your year as governors in 2010-11. Such an exchange of ideas will permit us to build a strong Rotary team with a common purpose for 2010-11.

Rotary started in 1905 with the creation of the Rotary Club of Chicago, but the organization we know today as Rotary International started in 1910 with the first convention of the first 16 Rotary clubs. Therefore, the completion of the first century of service by Rotary International will occur at the 2010 RI Convention in Montreal, and we will have the unique privilege of starting the second century of service in 2010-11. In order to justify such an honor, we need to demonstrate good leadership and try some new ideas to begin the new century of service!

Our meeting in Birmingham will be held during one of the afternoon breakout sessions, and I need to advise the convention planners about the number of DGNs and their spouses who will attend the meeting. As a result, I need for you to advise my assistant, Eileen Eckhouse, if you plan to attend our meeting in Birmingham. Also, please advise Eileen if your spouse will attend and whether you will need translation.

Eileen’s e-mail address is eileen.eckhouse@rotary.org, and her fax number is 847-866-3390. Please advise her as quickly as convenient whether you plan to attend the DGN meeting in Birmingham.

Sincerely,

Ray Klinginsmith
RI President-nominee