District Governor's Message
By: DG Bob MacKenzie, Kennebunk RC
Here we are in June of 2025, which came much too quickly. As our Rotary year winds down, our District is ramping up for an amazing year ahead. As I previously stated in an earlier newsletter, I knew this journey would go by very quickly. I have mixed feelings as my governorship comes to an end. I feel a sense of sadness as I wish I could have been more present, but at the same time I am so very grateful to have been able to have the opportunity to serve and the experiences which I did. I knew the very best part of the job would be the visits to clubs and meeting you all and hearing about and seeing the work you do locally and globally. For those of you who read my earlier articles, you know our family struggled with my stepdaughter with her fight with addiction, aka, substance use disorder. I am pleased to say she is six months sober, doing well and gainfully employed. The disease is a family disease and most definitely took a toll on our family. We are grateful she is alive and doing well.
I wasn’t certain if I would be able to remain as district governor while our family was living day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, not knowing if my stepdaughter’s addiction would take her from us. All I can say is if it weren’t for our Rotary family, we could not have done it. Too many names to mention, but PDG Marion Cheney offered to step up should I need to step down. Marion always asked me, “How are you really doing?”. Emma Bodwell and Michele Bois-Gilbody helped me through, pulling up the slack and checking in on me. Many of you would reach out or ask me how things were going when I made my club visits. Many Rotarians from outside our District would reach out to check on me and my family. Our Rotary family came through and I truly appreciate you for that. I cannot thank you all enough.
That leads me to Rotary’s monthly theme where June is designated Rotary Fellowships Month. We recognize the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests, to promote increased participation in fellowships, and to increase understanding of this program. For me personally, Fellowship is friendship and connection between people. We need that more than ever now. Outside of the angst and uncertainty in our world, we don’t always know what’s going on in others’ personal lives, because we tend to keep the personal struggles out of our circle of friends. That’s one reason I love Rotary, because we Rotarians tend to have similar values at the core. We care about humanity and each other. We want and need to be there for one another. It does make a big difference when you know others truly care. So, fellowship has a greater meaning for me than the Rotary International definition, but they are both powerful.
As I write this final article for the newsletter, know that you are in great hands over the next three years given the District Governor track, I promise you that. Thank you all for your contribution to service above self. We have an amazing District of which we should be very proud, because you make a difference in the world, you make lives better, and you save lives. It doesn’t get any better than that!
Yours in Rotary,
Bob