Greetings from District Governor Shanon O'Toole! 

 I think it’s unanimous that we are attracted to things that glow. The holiday season is full of inspiration and opportunities to shine brightly. It’s also a time for us to rejoice, celebrate, and spend time with family and friends.

It’s hard to believe that it’s December. We are definitely “Creating Hope in the World”. I am so thankful for our Rotary members and each club in our district. I’ve had the opportunity to visit 32 clubs. The biggest commonalities are love for Rotary, the community, and each other. Each club has their own unique identity and each is impressive.

November was an eventful month for our district. We have had a new club successfully Charter! I would like to welcome our 16 new members of the Rotary Satellite Club of Bargersville, Indiana. We also have paperwork pending for another new club in the district. We will announce it shortly! Grow Rotary!!!

We have relaunched Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) with a successful face-to-face class since before Covid. We also held an amazing Friends of the Foundation event at Mallow Run in Bargersville. Clubs worked on their grants, community service, fundraising, held Rotary toasts and packed away hunger.
Our District Conference Committee is hard at work preparing for an amazing event. Please plan to attend in Evansville on April 20th. During my club visits, I have asked everyone to mark this date down in a permanent marker. We really want you to attend. It’s a 1-day event, and we will provide lots of opportunities to learn, and we will celebrate Rotary! Registration will be up shortly.

“When we nurture peace, opportunities, and one another, we help heal the world and create lasting change.” This is on the first page of our December issue of the Rotary magazine. I encourage you to read it. There are many great articles, recipes, and stories about Rotarians all over the world working together to make lasting impact. Don’t miss page 61, our own District 6580, Rotary Club of Evansville’s Santa run is included!

Please review all the important information that is contained in this newsletter. As we head into the new year, there will be numerous training opportunities that you can take part in to further your knowledge and appreciation of Rotary. (See the calendar at the end of the newsletter.) I would encourage you to take part in those sessions that you can and encourage others to participate. Also, please do not hesitate to provide others with the gift of Rotary, by inviting those people who have a servant’s heart to a meeting or service project.

I want to thank our clubs and members for their focus on Creating Hope in the World, specifically Mental Health and taking the stigma out of asking for help. Statistically, mental health affects 1 in 5 people and that number increases during the holidays. Let’s keep an eye on each other, our families, and our friends during the holidays.

We have an amazing District because of our dedicated members and the hard work from our club and District leaders. THANK YOU!!

“Lets Glow together, Grow together, and make a lasting impact through Rotary!”

Sincerely,
Shanon O’Toole
Rotary International
District Governor 6580 23-24

Get to know District Governor Shanon O'Toole!