While Del Beckmann was not the main speaker of the day, the Highland Rotary Club did honor her and her family with a plaque and a binder full of information about the well that was constructed in memory of her late husband and former Rotarian, Dick Beckmann.

 

 

After the presentation to Del Beckmann and her family, our District Governor Larry Thompson gave the presentation for the afternoon.  His mission is to represent Rotary International President John Kennyand to pass along John Kenny's message and to learn more about us and our club here in Highland, Illinois.  He mentioned how much he liked our Literacy project that we did last year and is encouraging other clubs to do the same type of projects that get the community involved.  He is also looking forward to attending the Highland Rotary club's 75th Anniversary in 2013. 

 

Some of the messages he is trying to pass along is that Rotary International is not there to control its member clubs, but to motivate and inspire them.  Today, he passed out a key to each member.  This key symbolizes that we are the key that the Rotary Wheel (Gear) needs in order to work and succeed in their missions and goals.  Therefore the key is in our hands, literally! 

 

One of the largest projects that Rotary has undertaken has been Polio Eradication.  And because every member is key to the success of the project, the project is near completion.  As of today, there are only 1020 cases of Polio reported this year and last year to date there were 1253 cases.  Even the Taliban has asked Rotary to bring in vaccinations on the up and coming National Immunization days.  A lot has been done and the end is in sight.  His final message was that "the future of Rotary is in your hands!"