Rick Gromis Installed as our District Governor for 2017-18

D7430  Changeover  & Awards
Dinner  --  A  SMASH HIT
 
On Monday evening, June 26, 2017, 107 Rotarians and guests gathered at the Brookside Country Club in Pottstown to celebrate the closing Rotary year and to induct our next District Governor.  A cocktail hour and reception came first, with a sumptuous dinner soon after.
Area 3 Assistant Governor, Bob Hobaugh was the Emcee for the event, and he did a great job with humor and alacrity.
 
Our 2016-17 District Governor, Linda Young expressed her  heartfelt thanks to all Rotarians for the many significant accomplishments of the 2016-17 Rotary year in our fabulous district. We added two new RCs  --  Whitehall Area, and Upper Perkiomen  --  and grew the District Headcount by 56 net new members.
Equally significant was the continued marvelous generosity of our members in support of the RI Foundation during this Centennial Year. Records were set in Annual Fund giving as well as for PolioPlus. Overall  we led the Zone.
DG Linda announced the awards earned by our district Rotarians for their clubs during 2016-17, including five RI Presidential Citations, and 10 D7430 Governor Challenge Citations, and some individual RC membership growth citations.
 
As is our tradition, each of the Nine Past District Governors at the dinner was introduced and brought forward to form a line leading to DGE Rick Gromis. A gavel was passed down the line and into Linda’s hands who handed it to Rick Gromis signifying his becoming our D7430 Governor for RY 2017-18.
 
Then there was the changing of the Leadership lapel pins to show their new positions.
 
 
The tradition of the District Governor’s Home Club banner having  its name changed to “Spring Township Centennial.” Was not possible. But our new DG Rick Gromis did have the new name banner there.
 
After a standing ovation DG Rick addressed the crowd. He said “During the next year, my major goal is to have every club in the District prepare a strategic plan or update theirs. “
“And as always, we will be concentrating on membership, but we will be also focused on retention.  Our goal is to start one new club this year and a net increase of one new member in every club.”
|We will continue our efforts with the Foundation.  And to be strong advocates for New Generations, Youth Exchange, Camp Neidig, and the Four-Way Test speech contest.”
 
“Some BIG breaking news: we are planning to have an Interact conference alongside our District Conference in April.”
 
RI President-Elect Ian Riseley unveiled the theme for the 2017-2018 year, and it was “Rotary: Making a Difference.” As a Rotarian, you are MAD – Making a Difference – both locally and around the world. I will be asking each club to sponsor a MAD day: a day of service showcasing Rotary: Making a Difference.
 
And DG Rick plans to appoint a Public Image Chairperson with a primary focus on social media. The District and our clubs need to have an effective social media presence.
 
DG Rick expressed his thanks to many individuals and to all who are Making a Difference. Some gifts and some flowers were given out.
 
Before DG Rick  called this changeover closed, he told us all about our District Conference the last week in April, the 27th, 28th and 29th of next year.