Rotary District Governor speaks at Byesville Rotary

Pictured: Front row: Brent Rosenthal, District Governor, Brooke Aleshire, Trilyn Treherne, Tessa Bickford, Brittany Shelton. Back Row: Tany Hitchens, Byesville Rotary President, Karli Tellep, Jessica George, and Sharon Miller, Interact Advisor.

During his visit to Byesville Rotary, District 6690 Governor Brent Rosenthal, emphasized Rotary values are meant to be acted upon. He explained that the 2012 year’s theme, “Reach within to embrace humanity” is meant to remind Rotarians everyone shares similar needs, problems, and dreams. The goal of many Rotarian service projects is intended to help alleviate or solve shared problems and needs.

Gov. Rosenthal is challenging Rotary clubs in district 6690 to focus on providing service in two areas. He reminded club members that club members are Rotaries most important customers. A club’s members transform club values into action and spread the value of service out into the community. Clubs have a responsibility to engage their members in service projects by tapping into each member’s passion for service. In practice this means that each club must provide different opportunities for members to become involved. Rotary allows each club the flexibility to define for itself what areas of service members would like to pursue.

His second focus is reducing hunger in Ohio. Governor Rosenthal would like each Rotary club in within the club’s service area to identify at least three service projects addressing the problem of hunger. District 6690 is very diverse including both the richest and poorest zip codes in the state. Hunger is a problem in every community in District 6690. He stated that he is proud that Rotary is one of the few organizations in the world that is able to respond to this type of need

Byesville Rotary Club has focused on hunger for many years. The club supports an annual Christmas Food Basket program which provides food to between 200—250 families each year. The club also makes a donation to a local food pantry each month and has supported the summer school lunch program.

DG also announced to club members that district is interested in helping individual clubs let their communities know what service projects the club is involved in. The district is providing grants to clubs to support a public relations effort. He encouraged Byesville to consider applying for a grant.

Governor Rosenthal was introduced to the officers of the Byesville Rotary sponsored Meadowbrook Interact Club, a service club for students between 14-18. The Meadowbrook Interact Club is one of only 30 in the District.

The club meets 7:30 am every Tuesday at the Stop Nine Senior Center at 60313 (GPS use 60299) Southgate Road, Byesville. Anyone interested in learning more about the Byesville Rotary can call Membership Chairs Marty Patchen, 740-685-3828, or Randy Launder, 740-801-0017.