My fellow Rotarians,

On June 30th, Rotary ended the celebrations of our first 100 years. On July 1st, you and I  together shall start writing the first chapter of the new history book of Rotary's second 100 years. Our thinking and work will have a decisive impact on the future of this organization. The new Rotary century is a historical moment, and we are set to play our part in it! we have a golden opportunity to capitalise on the publicity generated in the Centennial year during the coming Rotary year, 2005-2006. This has given us a platform for our continued efforts to enhance our public image. We have great stories to tell. Let us just go out and do it. Let us blow our own trumpets and let everyone know how exciting it is to be a Rotarian.

The theme for this year is simple - SERVICE Above Self. It is the phrase I have always used in describing Rotary. We do not have a second theme causing confusion.  I believe that RI President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar has chosen the best motto ever created for Rotary International. He has also chosen the best logo ever created for Rotary International - our trademark, the Rotary wheel.

It was Martin Luther King Jr. who said " What disturbs me is not the noise and clamour and violence of the bad people in our society, but the appalling silence of the good people." We Rotarians do enormous amounts of good work, both in our own District and further afield. But we can do more. The World needs more Rotary and the best way to fill this need is to produce more Rotarians. There are few clubs which would not benefit from more members. If every club shows a net benefit gain of just one, we would gain over sixty new Rotarians. Is it too much to ask that we all try to exceed this goal? If you have not yet introduced a new member to your club, I ask you to give it a try this year.

To those who ask: "Is Rotary relevant in today's world?" I say. "Of course it is!" I never doubt that for a minute. Rotary has always been and always will continue to be relevant, if only we will not simply sit back dreaming of those things that we have achieved in the past and feeling so proud of them. Rather, we must plan and work even harder for the future. I am not suggesting that Rotary change its philosophy, regardless of how times have changed. I have great faith in the value of Rotary's structure - a network of individual, autonomous clubs based in communities all over the world.

My Rotary friends, the Rotarians of District 1020 in 2005-06, as we enter the new century of Rotary, let us together continue to show the world the great leadership of Rotary International through SERVICE Above Self!

Dr Steven Henderson

District Governor