Mesquite NV Sunrise Rotary Club

Month number two as District Governor is just another point as I ride the Rotary Trail.
Our preparation for the September branding season is "New Generation" month in Rotary.
The New Generation designation has been a Rotary concept for a few years and was
officially approved as the 5th Avenue of Service at the 2010 Rotary Council on Legislation.
It really is as if Rotary seeks to re-invent itself but, most importantly, it's how Rotary is
going to continue to evolve.
In this era of diversity, it certainly makes a lot of sense to not only bring in the established
business professionals, but to seek out the generation that is only now starting out in their
chosen career paths. New members bring in new and fresh ideas that can help stimulate a
Club to seek bigger, better, and bolder projects. Many Clubs in the District have "firesides"
or some other type of social functions. Invite a young professional to the event and most
certainly talk about what your Club does in the community.
I have tasked all the Assistant Governors to meet with their respective regional Presidents
monthly to explore joint efforts in both community and international projects. This could be
the opportune time to bring up a new and fresh idea suggested by a young professional.
Their social media contacts may light a fire with a simple suggestion or idea of something
that is needed in your community.
In my current Governor visits, I am finding many Clubs with younger members who have
only been in Rotary a short period of time. Don't let them stagnate. Invite them to a board
meeting so that they can not only see the actions of leadership in their own club, but also
encourage them to provide input. This can be the opening of providing leadership training.
Encourage and pay for their attendance at District Training events, and you just may have
provided the hook to keep them as Rotarians, to encourage them to serve, and even to chair
committees. It has been written in many articles that these young people are looking to give
back to their communities and other worthy causes. Don't let that get away from us.
I believe we are making positive strides with our New Generation professionals when, at
RYLA this past March, a young man was introduced as a facilitator who had attended
RYLA when he was in high school. I believe there were several young Rotarians from
throughout the District who participated at RYLA in some way.
Remember we all are supporting and encouraging new leadership in this 5th Avenue of
Rotary Service with programs such as Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, Youth Exchange,
TLC, and Interact Symposium. Are you taking aim at helping to select the participants?
These simple acts could result in the successful professional growth of the younger
generation. They may even end up as a Rotary Club President some day. Now let's ride the
Rotary Trail together and lasso ourselves a legacy as we "Reach Within to Embrace
Humanity."