In his installation address, Governor Rick Rivkin calls for leveraging the Power of One as we are Rotary Serving Humanity in the coming year. 
 
"So with our roots firmly planted in District 6440’s 100 year history and with leadership, strength, resolve, and commitment, let’s together move forward, each of us as One Rotarian, together with One Rotary Club, supported by One Rotary District, as part of One Rotary Serving Humanity, to make an impact on our One World. That’s The Power of One. In the words of Edward Everett Hale, 'I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.'"
 
Click to read Gov. Rick's full address.
 
Governor Rick Rivkin's Installation Address:
 
I am looking back to the events that led to this day. I was invited to join Rotary in 1999 by the then president of the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry who was a Northbrook Rotarian. A few years later, with full knowledge of my extensive travels and my passion for shrinking the world through personal contact, I was slated by Northbrook Rotary to be International Service Director under then club president Lucinda Kasperson. My predecessor in that position was Carlos Frum. And in 2007, then District Governor David Waring invited me to join the district leadership team (actually he spoke to Helen first) but I respectfully declined, preferring to serve my club first. And then a few years later club president Jim Kucienski incentivized me with a lovely, personal lunch in order to convince me to accept the club presidency for 2009-2010.
 
Although I joked with Carlos, and others, that I wanted to stay 10,000 feet above district leadership, our experiences leading polio immunization teams to India in 2012 and Nigeria in 2013 started a re-think of that position. Members of those NID teams included Ellen Young and Wendy Davis, both of whom just kept whispering in my ear about being District Governor.
 
If you sense any name-dropping here, it is purely intentional.
 
So why strive to be District Governor? I can relate to this quote from William Penn. "I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness or abilities that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
 
Anyway, let’s wrap up this personal history with my nomination in 2013 to be your District Governor for 2016-2017, and by gosh, 2016 is here already! Rotary has invested a lot of resources in training, or as Helen prefers to label it, preparation to be District Governor and in just 5 days [is Rodney counting the hours?] I will have the honor and privilege to lead a strong, vibrant district of 70 clubs and nearly 2300 members.
 
Governor Rodney Adams, please join me here – you are leaving District 6440 better than you found it. That’s not a slight to Ellen Young or any of your predecessors. It’s what we all hope to do during our year as District Governor – build on past strengths and successes and leave our imprint for the future. Thank you for sharing your reflections earlier this evening. Under your leadership, you and District 6440 were truly a Gift To The World. And your theme of Peace through Literacy clearly illustrates gifts to the world where Rotary Serves all Humanity.
 
In District 6440 we have a few traditions when it comes to District Governors. Your service continues as you chair our nominating committee to select the 2019-2020 District Governor. In addition, your wise counsel and valuable insights are respectfully requested on our weekly Governor-line conference calls and our quarterly Governor’s Advisory Committee meetings. Another of our traditions is to express our appreciation for your leadership this past year with a small gift, and, of course, another Rotary Pin – but this one says “Past District Governor”. Thank you.
 
You all know incoming Rotary International President John Germ has select Rotary Serving Humanity as his global theme for 2016-2017. And, closer to home, we’re going to focus on The Power of One – One Rotarian, One Rotary Club, One Rotary District, One Rotary Serving Humanity to benefit One World. At a macro level, the global and local problems and challenges can be overwhelming – whether finally eradicating Polio or addressing clean water and sanitation or peace and conflict resolution or any of the other Areas of Focus for Rotary. But when we cut those problems down to size, each Rotarian, each Club, each action makes an impact.
  • The child saved from paralysis by two drops of polio vaccine from one Rotarian.
  • The village that has clean water from a water well whose idea started with one Rotarian and one Rotary Club.
  • The remote community whose health care is improved by a medical clinic with digital x-ray equipment from a project conceived of by one Rotarian, several Rotary Clubs, and led by one Rotary District.
  • And the projects near and far, large and small, from local food pantries to warm winter coats for kids to emergency response ShelterBoxes, funded in part by our Rotary Foundation which was itself conceived of 100 years ago by one Rotarian with $26.50.
I have been thinking a lot about what our District can achieve in 2016-2017. An often-repeated quote from our founder, Paul Harris, goes something like this. “If Rotary hopes to advance its aims, it must be evolutionary always and at times revolutionary.” So I take that to mean we, as Rotary District 6440, should take bold action.
 
Bold Action on Foundation
We will have our first ever Foundation Dinner on November 13, 2016 to celebrate the centennial of our Rotary Foundation. We will continue to promote the Paul Harris Society and meet or exceed past district-wide donations, both in total and per-capita, to the Annual Fund-SHARE and PolioPlus.
 
Bold Action on Membership
Instead of continuing to try to bring people to Rotary, We’ll bring Rotary to where the people are. We have a goal of chartering at least a satellite club or a full club in each of the 5 sectors within 2016-2017 year.
 
Bold Action on Fun-Raising
Our goal is to have one fun event per month, either at the district or club/sector level, coordinated by our fun-raising chair.
 
Bold Action on Youth Service
We will work to strengthen the connection between our Rotary Clubs and all aspects of Youth Service including Youth Exchange, RYLA, Interact Clubs and Rotaract.
 
Bold Action on Community Service
Among other projects, we are planning our first-ever district-wide Random Acts of Kindness Day involving all of our Rotary Clubs, Interact Clubs, and Rotaract Clubs.
 
Bold Action on Disaster Response
We have appointed a Disaster Response Liaison for the district to be the focal point for responding to disasters through Rotary channels. Fund-raising for disaster response will be through our new 501(c)(3) charitable foundation with a broad mandate to accept donations in a tax-advantaged manner and disburse funds consistent with the charitable mission of the foundation.
 
Bold Action on Club Service and Support
We will not lose sight of the fact that the district exists to support the clubs. We will actively promote club excellence by encouraging the club visioning process and by preparing our future leaders with District Leadership Academy, PETS, One Rotary Summit and District Training Assembly.
 
Bold Action on Leadership and Organization
We will continue to be organized and responsible stewards of the Rotary brand and our legacy in District 6440, with accountability, transparency and efficiency in all that we do. We will continue to build depth in our leadership team to provide continuity. Your District Governor will be the Inspirational Cheerleader-In-Chief.
 
So with our roots firmly planted in District 6440’s 100 year history and with leadership, strength, resolve, and commitment, let’s together move forward, each of us as One Rotarian, together with One Rotary Club, supported by One Rotary District, as part of One Rotary Serving Humanity, to make an impact on our One World. That’s The Power of One. In the words of Edward Everett Hale, “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
 
Good night and thank you.