October has been a very busy month for clubs. There have been some great joint district and RI themes, as well as regional themes, such as PolioPlus, membership recruitment, youth exchange, and fundraising through events.
I have been surprised by the diversity and delighted by the Foundation discussions and the commitment to youth exchange and PolioPlus fundraising. Member training, RLI, has also been an activity this October. Thank you to the organizers, Tiina S & team, and of course the enthusiastic participants.
A big thank you to all the clubs for your hospitality and for doing good! I have now visited almost 40 clubs, and the clubs in my immediate area are now mainly left to visit.
UNITE FOR GOOD
The theme for the year, has been strongly and openly promoted in many ways and at many levels among members, clubs, and regions.
Peace work, the Foundation’s support for it, and the final eradication of polio remain our top priorities. On October 30, we held a wonderful Peace Congress at the Wiurila Manor in Salo, which is covered in a separate theme article. Check it out and get involved with your club!
A new club
October has been a month for recruiting new members. Here, too, we have had real success. A new club has been established in the district after a break of more than six years. This is a truly magnificent achievement by all the founding members of the new club in Houtskär and the driving forces behind the project, Uma and Aaro Söderlund. I warmly welcome you to our community. It was a wonderful moment to be present at the founding meeting in the village of Näsby in Houtskär on October 16.
A new satellite club
Similarly, a satellite club is already starting up in Forssa after the turn of October and November. Let’s hope this one also gets off to a good start. In addition, there have been joint membership recruitment events in the Turku area, for example, and more are planned elsewhere. These two new expansions are excellent examples of the appeal of our activities, as long as we open our doors a little to new thinking and also to DEI.
I encourage all clubs to consider whether we could also have an action group – members who could join themselves and bring in new active members. This could be an e-club or a special club supporting a particular hobby or business. Perhaps next we will hear about Rotaract or other activities.
The youth exchange candidates for next year have been interviewed. Thank you to all the clubs for the increase in numbers since last year! There were wonderful young people there, ready for the great adventure of their lives – safely with us.
UNITE FOR GOOD! Let’s do good together!
At this point, I would like to thank each and every one of you for every gesture, every minute, and every donation you have made. I would also like to thank all of you who have pledged your time and resources to the common good as club and district officials.
Finally, I encourage all our members to participate in district events, joint support concerts, events, and training sessions so that we can present an active and positive image to the outside world. Every event is also an opportunity to recruit new members.
The district spring conference
The spring district conference at Naantali Spa on April 11-12, 2026, is open to everyone, and I encourage you to attend. Mark the date in your calendar; registration will open early next year. SUNNY ROTARY is a fitting theme for the event we are now beginning to build for all of us. Come and join us, this celebration is just for you.
Finally, I wish you all safe travels, as we are now entering the most dangerous time of the year for traffic safety. To quote the commissioner from Hill Street Blues: Hey, be careful out there!
Remember to take care of the older members of your club and try to offer them a ride to your weekly events. This can make a big difference to the person and to the spirit of the club’s event.
TKM – Bring a Friend!
Finally, I would like to wish everyone a happy Independence Day 2025! It feels particularly important and relevant right now, when there is conflict and suffering so close to us in the world.
With November greetings
DG Matti
