As I reflect on September being “New Generations Month”, my heart swells with pride as I am made
more and more aware of the good work District 7770 is doing in this arena. Our Interact programs,
Rotaract programs, RYLA and now Earlyact Programs, strengthen our commitment to “Light Up Rotary”
by exposing young people to the good work completed on behalf of Rotary worldwide. While I’m
reminded of the value of these programs, my mind also turns to the continuum of the life cycle and the
challenges our aging population faces; another area in which Rotarians speak (and act) with service.
One of the true joys I have serving as your District Governor are the club visits I’m making. I get to learn
more about all of the wonderful and creative programs and service projects with which the clubs are
involved. I also get to talk about one of my passions as it relates to the cycle of life – a problem that
grips over 5 million Americans – dementia and Alzheimer’s. I’ve made no apologies for acknowledging
that Roger Ackerman of Sumter is my “Rotary hero”. Roger decided to “light a candle” in order to shed
light on the dreaded disease of Alzheimer’s. He is the father of the CART fund, a fund dedicated to
grant-making for promising research in this area. To date, 100% of the money collected in these blue
buckets has been channeled to researchers with promising research; almost 5 million dollars thus far. I
am convinced that we will see a cure for this dreaded disease in my lifetime and I am confident that it
will come from research that has been sponsored by CART – our own 7770 contribution to the cycle of
life.
As you proceed through this next month – encourage a young person to be involved with humanitarian
work – teach them what “service above self” looks like. Also, thank someone who may have traveled
this road of life ahead of you. With equal effort, learn from them what “service above self” truly means.
Continue to “Light Up Rotary” as we strive to be of service to each other and to humanity in general.