DISTRICT 1520

L'HUMANITE C'EST NOTRE AFFAIRE

Président International : Richard D. KING

Rotary is of great value. It changes the course of human life. It changes the lives of every Rotary beneficiary, as well as the lives of each Rotarian. It is worthy of our time, effort, energy, means, and commitment; and it brings people together. It is a great privilege to be a member of the world's oldest and most distinguished service club.It has always amazed me that Rotary works. Men and women of every race, creed, nationality, politics, culture, language, color, religion and every ethnic background, coming together each week in some 30,000 cities, town, villages and municipalities all over this planet of ours to break bread and work together to serve others and solve problems. It is surely what the Lord God intended when he told each of us to "Love one another."

Perhaps Rotary works because its ranks are filled with the finest people on the globe. Managers, professionals, owners, and executives, men and women of competence, leadership, skill, integrity and most of all, good will. Rotary executes, on a daily basis, the eternal hope of mankind for, "Peace on earth and good will toward men!" Indeed, Rotary is of great value....

It is my firm conviction that Rotary's best days lie ahead. We have demonstrated our strength and our ability to solve the problems of mankind on this globe. In immunizing the children of the world, we have demonstrated the ability of Rotarians united to make the 21st century the prime of Rotary service. And because of Rotary service, mankind's best century ever. I see the day when people everywhere will recognize. the Rotary wheel as the hope, help, and life of mankind. The people who solve problems.

I believe it is Rotary's destiny to become the most important, significant, non-profit, non-government, and non-religious organization in all the world's history. In the words of one 20th century statesmen, "Rotary has a rendezvous with destiny."