Rotary International is the world's first service club organization, with more than 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs worldwide. Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self. Pictured are the 2012-2013 Club Presidents and District Officers in a group photo from the 2012 President-Elect Training Seminar.

Visiting District 7780 Rotarians from Maine completed the Friendship Exchange begun last summer when District 6840 Rotarians visited Maine. Led by District 7780 Governor Marty Peak Helman, the visitors are shown here eating lunch on Friday, February 15, in the Mount Olive Food Ministry, Slidell, Louisiana, that Marty and her husband Frank helped restore to service after Hurricane Katrina. The lunch was hosted by the Rotary Club of Slidell, Ron Davis, President. Following lunch at Mount Olive, the group toured the Infinity Space Center adjacent to Stennis Space Center, and had dinner at the 200 North Beach Restaurant in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. PDG Karen Babin, Metairie, was the organizer of the tour. More photos under News/Photos > Photo Albums.

The third retreat of this year's Rotary Leadership Academy was held at the Long Beach Recreational Facility on February 16. ADG Vicky Magas gave a promotion for the upcoming District Conference. The two project teams did a reality check on their program to date. Trainer Gail Kelley-Webb led the group through an "artifacts" session. The retreat topic for discussion was "Storytelling/Trust/Delegation: Rotary is no longer Committees of One!"

The Group Study Exchange Team from District 3202 - India will be in the U. S. from March 23 - April 22. Clubs interested in hosting the team must submit a request form to District GSE Chair Sharron Newton by February 15. Go to the District Programs > Group Study Exchange page for more details.

The Rotary Club of Ponchatoula and the Wills for Heroes Foundation, a Louisiana State Bar Association program, jointly hosted a Wills for Heroes event on Saturday, January 12^th, at the Ponchatoula Police Department. Through the statewide program, volunteer attorneys, notaries, and other volunteers provide free wills and other estate planning documents for police, firefighters, and other first responders.

RI President-elect Ron Burton will ask Rotarians to Engage Rotary, Change Lives in 2013-14. He unveiled the RI theme during the opening plenary session of the 2013 International Assembly in San Diego, California, the annual training event for incoming district governors.

“If we really want to take Rotary service forward, then we must make sure that every single Rotarian has the same feeling about Rotary that each one of us here has today,” Burton said. “We need to make sure that every Rotarian has a meaningful role to play, that they’re all making a contribution, and that their contribution is valued.”

On December 2, the Paul Harris Society Holiday Gala was held at the Pearl River Community College, Poplarville, MS, to recognize and honor Major Donors, Paul Harris Society members, and Bequest Society members in District 6840. Shown in the photograph are Paul Harris Society members who were in attendance at the Gala. The keynote speaker was Tom Martin, Zone 31 Regional Major Gifts Officer, who spoke on the importance of endowment funding and annual giving to The Rotary Foundation to finance the world-wide activities of Rotary International. Rich Churchman, Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, gave a regional update, and District Governor Don Bryan recognized those Rotarians who have gone beyond the norm in supporting The Rotary Foundation. PDG Becky Askew organized the event. View additional photos in the Photo Album.

The Friends Forever delegation from Northern Ireland has arrived!!!!  The 5 Catholic and 5 Protestant teens, along with their 2 youth workers from the Belfast YMCA, and the American Site Manager, Sam Rush, are off on their 2 week long busy schedule of activities to assist them with building bonds of trust and friendship.  They will be living, traveling, cooking and doing service projects together, 24/7.  They are committed to continuing this peace building process for the coming year back home. See More for their schedule...

Mark Spicer, GSE Team Leader for the Outgoing Team going to District 3202 - India from Feb. 9 -  March 9, 2013, has selected his team members for the trip. To quote Mark, "WOW, I am excited. I am Mark Spicer and am the 2013 GSE team leader to India in February. I am proud to announce the following people have been selected to the team with the clubs that sponsored them." In the photo (left to right)
      Matt Dorback        

      Jaimee Goad - Pascagoula Club

      Ruhul Amin - Stennis Club

      Meghan Harwell - New Orleans Riverbend Club

      Mark Spicer, Team Leader - Ocean Springs

Click on More for team biographies:

The Nominating Committee of District 6840 has selected John J. Cornwell as its nominee for District Governor Designee. John is a member of the Rotary Club of St. Charles Parish and is currently serving as District Youth Protection Officer. There were no challenges to his nomination, so John will serve as District Governor for the Rotary year 2015-2016.