The Florence Rotary Club joined the Covington, Campbell County and Kenton County clubs in welcoming John Adams of Somerset, KY, the Governor of Rotary District 6740, on August 9 at the Radisson Hotel in Covington. It is becoming a tradition for the four clubs to meet jointly when the Rotary Governor visits Northern Kentucky.
John Adams is married to Christie Champlin Adams (formerly of Louisville). They have a son, Charlie, born March 2010. Adams is a partner in Adams and Venters,
Attorneys at Law in Somerset. He has served Rotary in several capacities including club president, foundation officer, youth exchange officer and assistant governor.
As the representative of Rotary International, Adams spoke to the assembled club members about the Rotary International President, a new strategic plan for Rotary
International, and the work of the Rotary Foundation toward worldwide elimination of polio.
Kalyan Banerjee of Vapi, Gujarat, India is the President of Rotary International for 2011-12. He is a director of United Phosphorus Ltd., one of the largest manufacturers of agrochemicals in India.
Born in Kolkata in 1942, Banerjee earned a degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology. He has been a long time member of the Rotary Club of Vapi and has served his club, district and Rotary International.
Banerjee’s goals for Rotary during his tenure are threefold. The first emphasis in this Rotary year will be the family, the second emphasis will be continuity and the third will be change.
His motto is, “Together, we will reach within to embrace humanity”. Adams pointed out that the new strategic plan encompasses three goals for Rotary International. They are; to support and strengthen clubs; to focus and increase Humanitarian service; and to enhance public image and awareness.
The International organization wants to be a resource for clubs around the world. It will espouse flexibility and support change accepting new models and formats for individual clubs.
Lastly, Adams gave an update on Rotary’s 20-year effort for the eradication of polio. Rotary has raised $185 million of its $200 million goal to match $355 million in challenge grants received from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The resulting $555 million will directly support immunization campaigns in developing countries where polio continues to infect and paralyze children, robbing them of their futures and compounding the hardships faced by their families.
Rotary and its partners are on the brink of eradicating this tenacious disease, but a strong push is needed now to root it out once and for all.
For information about the weekly meetings, guest speakers, and community service opportunities of Florence Rotary Club, contact Pat Moynahan, President, at amoynahan@insightbb.com or 859-802-0242.
Visit the group’s website at www.florencerotary.org. Florence Rotary meets weekly on Mondays at noon at the Airport Hilton Hotel in Florence.
Article submitted by Chuck Seal.
