Message from RI President Rtn. R. Gordon R. Mclnally

Dear fellow Rotary leaders

As we begin a new year of service, let us not forget the importance of every one of Rotary’s members.

You have been handed the reins of club and district leadership at an historic moment. Rotary has a chance to capture the world’s attention and realize possibilities beyond our expectations. But we must build on the work that has come before us if we are to reach our goals, such as defeating polio and empowering girls and women.

Rotary offers people of action a chance to connect and find belonging, and this fellowship gives us hope that we can create lasting change. But in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people than ever feel hopeless. Many have lost people close to them. Social networks have been uprooted and divisions have grown wider as opportunities for connection have been lost.

To make matters worse, in many parts of the world, asking for help – especially in the realm of mental health – is considered a weakness. But nothing could be further from the truth. It is brave to be vulnerable and to admit you don’t have all the answers. Reaching out for help is courageous – and continuing on a path towards wellness is even more so.

Join me in making Rotary a source of strength for all of those who feel they have lost hope, within and beyond our membership. Let this be the year we Create Hope in the World, and let Rotary be known as an organization that takes care, not only of its members but of the people we serve as well.

It is within your power to help bring peace and soothe those afflicted by conflict, both in their communities and in themselves.

Remember that your work can and will Create Hope in the World.

Warmest Regards,

Rtn. R. Gordon R. Mclnally

Rotary International President