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When most people think of what a Rotary District Governor does images of all the club visits and the amount of Rotary Chicken meals consumed often come to mind. I like to look at it as 3 years of getting ready (learning and planning) and 1 year of executing.

An incoming District Governor (DG-Elect) has to arrange  for many events long before their year even starts. Events such as: Pre-PETS, PETS, District Conference, District Assembly and District Installation (Pass the Gavel) to name a few.

At times it seems as if all of these events run together into a big blur and it is often challenging to get people excited about arranging agendas, outcomes, menus and venues a year or so before they happen. I’ve been lucky to get the help and support of my Rotary Club, North Haven Rotary, during this process and about a dozen dedicated Rotarians from other clubs in the district but still it is a big job.

What makes this process especially challenging is my overarching goal that each of these events provide some significant value to the attendees relative to the resources (time and money) which each will expend. I am striving to keep the costs as low as possible for the nicest places possible.

With GETS, International Assembly and Pre-PETS behind me I was finally able to get these big things off my plate this week:

• The contract for the May 2-4, 2014 District Conference @ The Mystic Marriot
• The contract for the April 13, 2013 District Assembly @ Southern CT State University
• The contract for the July 1, 2013 Pass the Gavel @ Anthony’s Oceanview in New Haven

I’m looking forward to these events coming off nicely and am happy that I have so many dedicated volunteers who are willing to help make them successes.