NEW ROTARY LEADER JOHN PREDICTS A ‘HISTORIC YEAR’

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Newly elected District Governor John Sayer (left) wearing his chain of office and presenting his immediate predecessor Richard Green with his District Governors Jewel.

 

“It is an honour and privilege to accept this chain of office and I will use my best endeavours to uphold the high standards achieved by my predecessors as I lead the district through the next 12 months.”

With those words, Rotarian John Sayer followed in the footsteps of his immediate predecessor Rotarian Richard Green to whom he paid tribute for leading the district throughout the last 12 months ‘very much in his own way and from the front.’

Rotarian John Sayer, who now leads 1,600 Rotarians in 55 clubs in Staffordshire,Shropshire and parts of the West Midlands, said of his immediate predecessor:

 “He has been a regular visitor to Rotary Clubs throughout the District, indeed has visited most at least twice – which is no mean feat.  Right to the end, he has kept a very close eye on the operation of the district.”

And John’s first duty on taking over as District Governor was to present Richard with his past District Governors Jewel as a mark of gratitude to begin a ‘well earned rest.’

Speaking at the district’s handover event, the new DG said looking ahead the next Rotary year would be a historic one – celebrating the centenary of The Rotary Foundation.  This represented 100 years of Rotary’s own charity ‘doing good in the world.’

“Through Rotary Foundation, we are truly able to make a difference with our projects within the areas of focus; promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving the lives of mothers and children, supporting education and growing local economies.
“As well as being a historic year it may well one day be known as one of the greatest years in our history – the year that sees the world’s last case of polio.  We must redouble our efforts to complete the job that we started back in 1985.”

He added:

“Rotary has to be fun – it is after all a hobby.  And whilst we set about serving humanity, we must never lose sight of the need for Rotary to be enjoyable.
“I intend to enjoy myself in the next 12 months as I lead the district onto even greater achievements and I fervently hope that all my Rotary colleagues will equally be enjoying their Rotary.”