District Governor-elect Erna Stevenson

What an exciting year 2006-2007 will be as we "Lead the Way" as advocates of peace and conflict resolution.

I am honored and proud to be your District Governor for 2006-2007. As we start our year "Leading the Way" to achieve peace and understanding, let us do so with enthusiasm, and awareness of Rotary's potential to make a difference. There are many needs in the world, and we can't meet them all. But, we can make a difference with one project at a time by dedicating ourselves to service in our Clubs, our vocations, our communities and the world.

Emphasis for the year will continue to be water management, health and hunger, literacy and the family of Rotary. The very basic need is clean water. Without it you cannot have healthy children, raise food or have literacy. When you have clean water you can think of other things such as hunger. Every year 11 million children die, seventy percent from preventable causes. Healthy families can look forward to a future beyond poverty and the path for that is literacy.

Rotary International President, Bill Boyd, asked us to "take your places as leaders in your district and communities by Leading in the Rotary Way, by living as role models of tolerance, unselfishness and integrity. And because the best leaders have humility, do so with friendliness and a smile, so others will be happy to walk beside you. Quiet leadership, true decency and a desire to help others can accomplish so much."

I thank you for the opportunity to work with you. Together we will make a difference and "Lead the Way". Lead not with what you say, but with what you do.

Presidents-Elect Planning Calendar