In keeping with the current health situation, this years visit of the District Governor was a "virtual" one. The club welcomed Mary Turner, Rotary 5360 District Governor 2020-2021 to our meeting, accompanied by the new Assistant Governor for this area Keith Walker from the Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary Club. Both were welcomed by club President Mark Sorenson and DG Mary was introduced by Keith.
Keith introduced Mary, a Toronto native who joined Rotary in 2008 and was club President in Olds for the 2013-2014 year. She and her husband Steve operate the Wildrose Medical Center in Olds and have been active in the YEX program, hosting 3 long term students.
Mary started out by thanking everyone for attending this meeting, in this unique year and her current nickname within the District is "COVID Mary". She spoke about the upcoming partnership between Rotary and Toastmasters, the addition of a 7th area of focus for Rotary International, that being "Enviroment". She touched on the need to increase our diversity, particularly the balance of males and females in each club and she was particularly delighted to announce the appointment of Jennifer Jones, as the Rotary International President for 2022-2023. Jennifer is a Canadian, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor and will be the first female President of RI in history.
Mary also spoke about the wishes of current RI President Holger Knaack, Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany. Holger would like each club to take on a few goals for his year including.
- Consider new models for membership, satellite and passport clubs.
- Have at least one strategic planning meeting each year.
- Be very thorough and careful in selecting members.
- And remember that we are "this close" to ending Polio, and support the Rotary Foundation in this effort.
DG Mary also invited everyone to the upcoming District Conference, on May 14-16 in Drumheller, AB. She hopes it will be an in person meeting but flexibility is the name of the game currently. She ended her presentation by speaking about her "Rotary moment", working in her club to help a school in Kenya and that showed her the impact an individual and a club can have around the world.
Mary was thanked by President Mark and answered a few questions. We all wish her great success in her year and hope to see her "in person" after January of 2021.