Our Future Leaders, Bringing in the A Team

One of the real rewarding items of being a District Governor is seeing the Future Governors planning, preparing, and motivating for their year. As my year speeds toward the finish line, out future leaders – the “A” Team are coming on line.

District Governor Elect Frank Ortiz of the Rotary Club of Santa Maria Breakfast has been a friend of mine for quite some time. I remember sitting with him years ago in a District Governors class being taught by PDG Jock McKenzie at a District Assembly and thinking to myself “What am I doing in this class when there are such great DG candidates in this one class?” This class also included now PDG Rich Abbott, Jane McClenahan, Anil Garg, Luz Maria Ortiz Smith, and DGE Frank! Frank will do a Great job as DG as he has the experience and personality to fulfill the job with excellence.

District Governor Nominee Jack McClenahan has been a very close personal friend and he and his wife PDG Jane have been International travelling partners with Roxanne and me. We have travelled with them in England, Mexico, Korea, and we have plans to travel in the future. Jack has the experience as an Executive Assistant Governor for Jane in her year as DG (2007-2008), and has been preparing for quite some time serving in many roles for the District. Jack is also very involved with my year and has been in the major planning stages for Frank.

The District Governor Nominee Designate is Loretta Butts of the Rotary Club of Atascadero. This year is the first year that we moved the selection of our DGND (District Governor Nominee Designate) six months. This was put in place to allow our Governors more time to prepare and plan for their year. I have had the opportunity to work with Loretta with many International projects, as she has spent much time working in this Avenue of Service. Loretta was the Chair of last year’s STEPS (Symposium To Eliminate Poverty Sustainably), Grants, and has served in practically every leadership position in her area. The late PDG Ray Wirth was Loretta’s mentor and he was a PDG that I respected very much.

I am very happy and honored to have such a strong line-up of qualified Governors in our future and I hope you will all take the time to meet and greet our Future Leaders.