Dear Rotarians of District 6630,
I am deeply humbled, honored, and excited to officially begin my term as your District Governor. I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported me along this journey especially my family, my club members, and the incredible leaders who have mentored me along the way.
As we step into this new year together, please allow me to share a bit of my Rotary journey, my "why," and the shared vision that will guide us.
My "Why": A Lifelong Journey
My connection to Rotary runs deep. My father was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Nordonia Hills, and it was that very club that sponsored me as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student to Australia. That life-changing experience opened my eyes to the world and taught me the power of cultural understanding and human connection. This jump-started my Rotary journey.
I joined Rotary to pursue a passion, but I have stayed in Rotary for 37 years because I see the lasting impact we have. From our global fight to eradicate polio to our local initiatives right here in our communities, we are living proof of Rotary's vision statement: together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.
Our Collective Vision: Create Lasting Impact
As we move into this new Rotary year under the theme Create Lasting Impact, I want to focus our energy on strengthening our core. We are not lone leaders standing apart, but links in an unbroken chain of Rotarian leaders stretching back decades and extending into the future.
Over the next twelve months, my energy will be dedicated to two primary areas:
- Investing in our youth engagement and continuity so our wonderful youth programs are the beginning of a lifelong Rotary journey, not the end.
- Strengthening club excellence by ensuring every unique club has the support, peer collaboration, and storytelling tools they need to flourish.
I look forward to sharing the specific, exciting plans and initiatives we have lined up for this year when I visit your clubs in the coming months!
Our Rotary International President, Yinka Babalola, regularly shares how he believes Rotary is more than a service organization; it is a transformative experience. He encourages each of us to reflect on how Rotary has transformed our own lives, and to share our story with others.
This is why we are here, and this is why I invite you to continue this journey with me. Together, let us share our stories, forge new links in our Rotary chain, and create lasting impact!
Thank you,
Terri Speck
