Rebecca MacPherson - District Governor 2012-13 Monthly Message

 

 

As we enter this month…”New Generations Month”, we need to be mindful of the future of Rotary and involve our youth in Rotary.

 

Every year, thousands of talented and dedicated young people, ages 12-30, have an incredible experience in a Rotary New Generations program.

 

As Rotaractors and Interactors, they serve in communities at home and abroad. Through Rotary Youth Exchange, they explore new cultures and gain an understanding of others. And as Rotary Youth Leadership Awards participants, they learn skills that will help them succeed as future community leaders.

 

This month I attended our Youth Exchange Rebound weekend at Cottonwood House, just outside of Quesnel.  It was a time for returning exchange students and their parents to meet and spend time discussing the year and the joys and challenges of the students returning home. While there I met students who, over the past year, have represented our District in a way they should be proud of. Through their exchange, they have helped in bringing peace to our world by allowing others to see that, no matter where we come from, we all care about the same things.

 

When in Rotary we open the door of possibility for our youth, we open a door for the rest of humanity too. Our time spent coaching and mentoring this group is one of the most rewarding pursuits anyone can undertake. The investments we make in young people today will pay immense dividends in the years to come.

 

I encourage you to look for ways you can expand the opportunities for the young people in your communities. Engage them. Mentor them. Listen to them. Let’s give our youth a stage on which to dream, to hope, to be
challenged and to grow.

Rebecca