July 1, 2009

Dear Fellow Rotarians,


I“Rotary is in your hands.” These words were spoken by Rotary
International President John Kenny during a presidents elect
training session that I attended. I know that Kenny was not only
speaking to the new presidents in our district. President Kenny
was speaking to each Rotary member individually. As this year’s
president of the Statesboro Rotary Club, I believe that we all have
a great deal to offer. We have the opportunity to touch the lives of
not only people in our hometown, but also those in surrounding
counties, states, and countries.

I am thankful to be apart of this organization. Linda Williamson,
her directors, and committees certainly set a high standard which
I respect and will strive to continue. With such a diverse group of
members, we can combine our talents for the greater good.
Under the leadership of International President Kenny, I would
like to invite you to share your minds, hearts, funds, and time to
benefit the daily lives of countless individuals.

Issues of water, health, hunger, and literacy will be addressed
this year. While there are several projects underway that deal with
health issues, the Polio project is definitely the largest. Locally,
we support Second Harvest, which addresses hunger in our
community. With the help of President Kenny, the Rotary
Foundation is in a position to undertake worldwide projects on
hunger. Rotary has joined with Dolly Parton to encourage literacy
in Georgia. Under the Ferst program, children can receive12
books each year soon after a child is born until they reach five
years of age. Contributions to the Rotary Foundation are
welcomed to help support these worthy charities.

Goals are important in the vitality of any club. The District
Governor of Rotary would like to see each club in his district grow
by a net of two members per club. All Rotarians may sponsor
new members. I would like to set a goal for The Statesboro
Rotary to become a 100% Paul Harris fellowship club.

As the fourth largest club in our district, with 153 members, I
know there is much that can be accomplished. I am sure you
have heard the biblical expression: “From everyone who has
been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one
who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
(Luke 12:48b).  Indeed, we have received much! I f you think
about it, we didn’t have any choice as to be born or not to be born.
We didn’t have any choice in picking our parents. We didn’t have
any choice in what country we would be born. Yet, I know that we
have been blessed. We live in a land of plenty. We have many
freedoms and opportunities that others don’t have. We should
look at the opportunity to serve our fellow man, many of which do
not have more than a dollar a day on which to subsist. Let us
handle every opportunity through the eyes of Paul Harris as we
rotate toward another great year.

Thanks to all,
John Ray Henley
John Ray Hendley
Rotary Club of Statesboro
District 6920
Post Office Box 1399
Statesboro, Georgia 30459

StatesboroRotary@yahoo.com
 
 
Statesboro Rotary Club
Rotary Club of Statesboro
In our 73rd year and going strong!