A Happy New Year to all my fellow Rotarians!

January is named after Janus, the god of the doorway in Roman mythology, coming from the Latin wordfor door (ianua) - January is the door to the year.

For us in the Rotary community, January is the midpoint of our year of service, allowing us to look at both what we have done and what we have yet to do. This is a crucial time to review the goals that we have set for ourselves, and to evaluate how well we have fulfilled what we have set out to do. It is a time to look at our progress and our challenges, so we can map out the steps we shall take to complete our planned service successfully.

In my travels as your District Governor, I have already seen how much Rotarians in D3850 can accomplish when they put their commitment into the tasks. Your invaluable help in bringing safe, pure water to those who lacked it, providing food and shelter to those who needed it, and assisting in the education of those who could not read or write are noteworthy achievements you can all be proud of. Your laudable efforts to STOP TB and End Polio are just some health concerns that were addressed with urgency. And in all these, you have served within the bond of fellowship and friendship, and within the bounds of high ethical standards.

As President John Kenny never fails to inspire, “Rotarians are able to make changes that will shape the course not only of the months but of the years and decades that lie ahead. This is our privilege. It is also our duty as Rotarians – as caring members of society who are in the fortunate position of being able to help those living in conditions we can barely imagine.”

So much is yet to be done these next months as each of us chooses to continue the task we have begun, and to continue to put Service Above Self.

Let me take this opportunity to thank you for the Rotary service you have given in the past, present and future.

DG Edgar Sy