District Governor's Christmas Message

As we near the end of the year - and the halfway point of the Rotary year - it’s time for the District Governor’s festive message. I suspect many of you will be far too busy to read this before Christmas Day, with Santa Sleighs, Carol Concerts, Christmas meals, and pantomimes all in full swing. It really is the busiest time of year for many of us.

But busyness (is that a word?) is simply “business as usual” for Rotarians - see what I did there? I continue to be impressed by the fundraising efforts taking place all year round. Thousands of pounds are raised by you for a wide range of good causes, alongside the incredible work you do every month. It’s wonderful to see photos each week of Rotarians and friends getting stuck in and helping others.

Don’t forget to promote your upcoming activities as well as your completed projects - you’ll attract even more volunteers that way. And a gentle reminder: please continue to support our own charities. The Rotary Foundation and End Polio Now need our contributions more than ever to sustain humanitarian work across the world. With persistence, we will one day see the end of polio.

Supporting youth has long been a cornerstone of Rotary. Alongside fundraising, our Youth Competitions are a highlight of the year. Please keep encouraging schools and youth organisations to take part - it’s a brilliant way to involve the community, and it’s fantastic to see young people enjoying the variety of opportunities we offer.

Do remember to register your club’s commitment to RYLA as soon as possible, along with the first payment. We are currently reviewing how RYLA might evolve in future years, but for this cycle (July 2026) it will run in the familiar format. Get in touch with the team as soon as you can - the more clubs involved, the better. Hearing participants speak about their experiences is always inspiring.

I’ve avoided naming individual clubs here because so many of you are doing such great work that I’d fill the entire newsletter - and still probably miss someone. But I must give a special mention to our first Satellite: the Montrose Coastal Satellite Group, chartered on 1 August. I’m only naming them because they threatened to perform a dance on TikTok, and now that I’ve given them a mention, they’ll have to follow through! If you’re not on TikTok, follow “Rotary in Montrose” on Facebook - you’ll likely see the dance there too.

Thank you to all the clubs I’ve already visited for your warm hospitality. It has been a pleasure to meet you and learn about your projects. For those I’ll be visiting in the new year, I’m looking forward to being even more inspired by the breadth of work happening across the district.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you, your families and friends. And if Christmas isn’t your celebration, I wish you joy and happiness in your own festivities. Let’s enjoy the season and return in January refreshed and ready for even more fantastic Rotary achievements.