Centennial District Governor Dave Seabrook
To pick out any special occasion or moment in my year as Centennial District Governor would be difficult. The whole year, as we celebrated the 100th year of Rotary was amazing.
I recall the Club meeting where PDG, Bruce Dewhirst, and the directors of our club, encouraged me to run for the 2004 -2005 District Governors position. I was a bit hesitant, as I felt somewhat unqualified, but Bruce had a way of encouraging someone to be a leader in our District.
We started the training at 2 Zone Insitute's because our District was in 2 zones at the time, and then to International Assembly in Anaheim California, when I realized what a privilege and honor this was to represent our District 6290, as Centennial Governor and what a year it was.
The R.I. president was Glenn Estess, the theme that year was Celebrate Rotary, and that’s what we did. The International Convention was held in Chicago in June of 2005 and many of our Rotarians from our District attended. If you were part of our District Conference that year, you will recall that the conference was held in the fall of 2004 and that we held it on the train that runs north into the Agawa Canyon. You didn’t have to move from session to session, you just stayed in your seat and the speakers moved from one coach to the other.
There are many things in the Centennial year that I was proud of. But one that stands out more than others was The Seabrook Challenge. This was a fundraiser for every Rotarian in the district to support the clean water initiatives We committed to place 1000 bio-sand water purification systems in homes in the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Honduras. With the leadership of Jim and Sue Bodenner from the Rockford club, and other committee members, we were able to accomplish it and more. Benjamin Franklin once said, "When the well is dry, we realize the worth of water."
What I am most proud of are all the Rotarians in our District that stepped up and supported the cause. There were a number of districts's around us who also joined in to support The Thirsting to Serve water initiatives continued on for many years after.
I was privileged to join Rotary in the fall of 1977. My employer was a Rotarian and I was working as a manager in his Automobile Dealership. I was invited to a meeting by one of the Rotarians and 2 weeks later was inducted into the Rotary Club of Sault Ste Marie North. I've been a Rotarian for 44 years now, with perfect attendance for the last 34 years. I served in many positions in our club. I was President of our club in 1999/2000 and will be President again for the 2021/2022 year. Over the years we hosted many exchange students and it was through that, and their desire to serve, 3 of my 4 children joined Rotary. Carolyn our oldest, is employed by Rotary as The Major Gifts Officer for the Rotary Foundation and her husband Richard is a member of the Ancaster Ont. am club. Both of their children were exchange students. Rotary is a big part of my life, It gives me the opportunity to give back and serve others in our community and around the world.
Over the years our world changes. Rotary changes also. But one thing that never changes is the words of the 4-way test. It was what Rotary was founded on and it will carry us through these difficult times.
Remember our theme for this year Rotary opens Opportunities and there are going to be many opportunities as we move forward in this coming year from this Pandemic.
Blessings, Centennial Governor Dave Seabrook