District Governor’s Message

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

As we observe Membership and New Club Development Month, our focus naturally turns to growth. We celebrate the induction of new professionals, the chartering of new clubs, and the fresh vigor that flows into our district. We work diligently, carrying heavy buckets of enthusiasm, inviting colleagues, and hosting recruitment drives to bring new life to our meetings.

But I ask you to pause and look closely at the soil of your own clubs. Are we hauling buckets of water to a garden that cannot hold it?

As we celebrate Membership and New Club Development Month, our focus naturally turns to growth. Imagine a farmer who spends every waking hour hauling heavy buckets of water to a hillside garden, only to watch the water slip away through deep cracks in the clay. To save his harvest, he doesn’t need larger buckets; he needs to build strong retaining walls. In Rotary, we often obsess over the size of our buckets while ignoring the structural integrity
of our own clubs. As we near the halfway mark of our Governor’s Visits, the momentum across our district is incredible. We are welcoming a massive influx of new Rotarians, with some clubs successfully adding up to a hundred new members.

However, to build organizations that last, we must put down the recruitment buckets for a moment and pick up the trowel to reinforce the true Rotary experience. Our legacy this year will not be defined merely by the record-breaking numbers we add, but by the members we actually keep. Let us ensure that every new Rotarian is given the strong, welcoming foundation they need to put down deep roots and thrive in our fellowship.

As we celebrate new clubs and new faces this month, let us also commit to the members already standing beside us. Let us put down the buckets, pick up the trowel, and ensure that every drop of potential within District 3780 is given the strong foundation it needs to thrive.

RHYAN G. VIRREY
District Governor, RY 2026-2027
Rotary International District 3780