Another Rotary Year is off to a very busy start and at the July 20th lunch meeting, the Rotary Club of Belleville welcomed District 7070 Governor John Burns (pictured here with Rotary Club of Belleville President Peter Malone) and Assistant District Governor Sandi Ramsay. ADG Sandi Ramsay is known in the community for her involvement as the Donor Relations and Communications Manager with Hospice Quinte. In this role, Sandi was instrumental in helping to raise $9.2 million in order to bring the Stan Klemencic Care Centre to fruition. The Rotary Club of Belleville is a proud contributor, having donated $25,000 in 2021. Sandi is also a volunteer with the Trenton Memorial Hospital, Lower Trent Conservation and Loyalist College. She is currently Chair of Government Relations for the Association of Fundraising Professionals (South Eastern Ontario Chapter) and a member of the Board of Directors for the Belleville and District Chamber of Commerce. Sandi is a member of the Rotary Club of Trenton and Past President 2021-2022 and a big supporter of club collaborations and the Rotary Club of Belleville is looking forward to working with her this coming year as Assistant District Governor.
Sandi introduced District 7070 Governor John Burns, originally from Scotland and now a proud Canadian. John is married with two children, lives in Wilmot Creek in Newcastle and retired in 2014 which has provided him with more time to devote to Rotary as well as his own community, volunteering being a huge part of his and his wife's life. That and a little golf and travel when time permits.
District Governor John Burns has a new role as Special Agent 7070 and shared some highlights of the Rotary International Conference where he attended International Assembly Training with 500 District Governors from around the world. With everyone wearing their national dress, it was a spectacular array of colour and diversity. John wore his Scottish regalia as did RI President Gordon McInally. To quote RI President, a message for all Rotarians "Let's create a new beginning. Instead of closing the door on one year, let's build a bridge to the next one. As long as a river flows, people will determine a way to cross". Rotary has been handed the reins of leadership at a very opportune moment and historic time where Rotary has a chance to capture the world's attention. Some of our best work may be supporting the efforts of others. Rotary is about continuity, advancing the good ideas of leaders who came before us. We have seen the continuity in years gone by as one Rotary President after another has made, kept and built on promises made. DG Burns mentioned some of those continuity promises -- empower Rotaract and continue to support each other and work together; empowering girls to become strong, empowered women; expanding our reach in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion, not just to increase our numbers, but to ensure Rotary is an open and inclusive organization that embraces the best people, the best ideas and the best partnerships, no matter where we come from; continued focus on End Polio Now, supplying every resource available to succeed.
The 2023/2024 Rotary International Theme is CREATE HOPE IN THE WORLD. When people have lost hope, not just in material things, but when they reach out and admit they need help, they are courageous and when Rotary helps others, we are helping ourselves. Bringing hope benefits our own mental health and well-being, friendships are developed and a sense of community stands firm. Our plans for the year ahead is to bring peace to the world, soothe those conflicted, help each other and our communities, end the stigma to ask for help and create hope. We need to be open and willing to change and keep our focus on creating peace and hope and ensuring our actions are focused on achieving this plan. We need to take the ordinary and achieve the extraordinary. We are on this journey together. Will you go with me is the question DG John Burns asked.