District Governor 2016-17

District Governor Michelle O'Brien

It’s the start of a monumental year in Alaska and the Yukon Territory for Rotary.

I am so incredibly humbled and excited to be your District Governor in this historic year. David and I would like to thank you all so very much for letting us serve you as Rotarians. It is our goal to be here for you, for whatever you need. We are, after all, a team of folks doing good in this world and in our communities.

You may say to yourself, what’s so different about this year? Lots.

It’s is the 100^th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation, the 30^th Anniversary of Women in Rotary, as well as the 150^th Anniversary of Alaska. It also could very well be the year in which Polio is eradicated forever from our world.

Rotary International President, John Germ, has themed his year around “Rotary Serving Humanity” after Paul Harris’ belief that serving humanity is the most worthwhile thing a person can do. I think that is perfect for the dedicated Rotarians all around Alaska and the Yukon. We have a vibrant and exciting group of talented Rotarians who are always serving our diverse communities and bettering our world. And, we have fun doing it.

I always like to share with folks that, in my mind, Rotary is the adventure of a lifetime. What that means, as a Rotarian for 18 years, is that I’ve grown up in Rotary and so have my daughters. Rotary offers an endless list of possibilities for folks. Would you like to be a leader? Would you like to create a better community through a project? Do you love youth? How about traveling to far-away places to serve globally? And you can always make great lifelong friends.

David and I are looking forward to traveling around Alaska and the Yukon to visit with all of our wonderful Rotarian friends this year. We hope to cross paths with you soon, and as always, we are always here to help make your Rotarian adventure a reality.

Thank you all for being outstanding Rotarians, for serving humanity, and most of all, for being friends.