Immediate Past District Governor Pams End of Year

“Being your District Governor has been
an immense honour”

Having become our District Governor on 1st July 2023 for twelve months Pam Holgate has shared her thoughts with us on what has been a fantastic journey.

Pam says “ My role has been visiting Rotary clubs within Cumbria & Lancashire to draw attention to important Rotary issues, participate in projects and offer support, guidance and motivation to members. 

Keeping members up to date with my activities is usually done via a monthly newsletter, however I have chosen to create quarterly videos along with proving quick updates in the Teams Newsletter. 

My year has been full of fabulous invitations.  I have travelled the length and breadth of the district, met loads of Rotarians doing amazing work in their communities, chartered Rotakids clubs, listened to the Peace Scholars, watched how we work in partnership with others, assisted in the creation of our Direct membership hub and shared our Sun Never Sets on Rotary story right across the world. 

In May we held Rotafest24 – our District Conference with a difference!  It was fantastic to hear the chatter of friendship, see the swapping of ideas, and watch Rotary in Cumbria and Lancashire continue to grow.

Part of my role has also included meeting with my fellow District Governors across Great Britain & Ireland and hearing from our Director Eve Conway and Board Chariman Robert Morris.  In November I attended a Leadership Summit along with District Governor Elect Kath Robinson and District Governor Nominee John Edwards. At this event we shared good practice and heard about Rotary’s five year vision to grow our membership to sixty thousand members by 2028.

We know the eyes into our district are through our social media posts and website. The more I visit clubs and listen to the incredible activities and projects taking place the more I know we need to shout LOUD and PROUD about what we do. 

As one Rotarian commented to me, we spend a lot of time telling each other what we achieve, but that doesn’t attract new members.  What we need to do is make the rest of the world know what we are doing and why. 

Being your District Governor has been an immense honour.  What will stay with me forever is the passion and commitment you have for making a difference, no matter how big or small the request you always rise to the challenge and have created happy people everywhere!  Wherever I go and whatever company I am in someone always comments on the social media posts I share about our work, your work and want to know a little more about Rotary.

Let’s keep sharing our Rotary stories, let’s keep creating hope in the world, but most importantly let’s do it whilst having lots and lots of FUN!!”