January is Rotary Awareness month, although I believe that we should be mindful every month of Rotary and all the healing it provides around the world.  However, this month is dedicated to that process, and while thinking of what to write here it occurred to me that the beginning of a new calendar year is the perfect time to rededicate ourselves to being a Rotarian in every sense of the word, not just in membership alone.  This is a time when many of us commit to dieting after the overeating of the season, to cleaning out those overstuffed closets, to working muscles happily accustomed to our procrastination.  Wouldn't it be terrific if each of us could commit to something equally as important; making Rotary a more prominent, more active part of our lives.  This involves some self-motivation, which is possibly the most difficult thing to do, since it is human nature to do more when we are pushed from the outside than from within ourselves.  My challenge to the members of our district is to make a commitment to be more present at our projects, to offer to help before we are asked, to invite guests to meetings, to offer suggestions and then help in carrying them out.  Service Above Self is not just a phrase; it is an active entity to which we all committed when we accepted membership.

I am gratified that our membership is growing, attendance at district events is up, and the number of projects in the works is encouraging.  It is my sincere hope that we can continue to expand our district so we can accomplish even more.  This can only be done with a rededication by all of our members to keep the focus on eradicating polio, on helping our children to be literate, on reaching out to our communities and Feeding Their Needs, and on making our New Year Resolution to be the best Rotarians we can be.  After all, WE, and our service, are the best gifts we can give to anyone.

Jay Saltzman, Governor
District 5260