On Monday, April 7, our Club had the honor of welcoming Dan O’Brien, District Governor for Rotary District 6460, to speak with us at Maldaners Upstairs.
Dan’s presentation was both engaging and educational, starting with a story about Gustave Loehr, a Carlinville native, who played a pivotal role in the creation of Rotary International. He introduced us to Loehr’s often-overlooked contribution and provided a short book titled Gustave Loehr, Rotary’s Forgotten Founder to further explore his impact.
He also shared a fascinating personal story about his visit to the U.S. Supreme Court, where he was an observer during the case of Rotary International vs. Rotary Club of Duarte. This case was a turning point for women in Rotary, as it paved the way for women to join Rotary clubs. Dan emphasized how this moment, along with meeting Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, one of the central figures in the case, motivated him to become a Rotarian. He noted that Rotary District 6460 is now 33% women members.
In his remarks, Dan acknowledged the success Rotary District 6460 continues to experience in service and fundraising efforts that support our communities. However, he also addressed a concern: membership. Membership has been declining across Rotary in the district and North America. He highlighted reasons for this decline and shared factors that keep members engaged, but emphasized that together we have to do a better job of attracting and supporting new members. To this end, Dan stated that the district is prioritizing offering a wider array of events and services to attract and retain new members with a goal of adding at least 4 new clubs and at least 100 new members during the year.
Our Club is grateful to District Governor Dan O’Brien for his insightful presentation and for taking the time to visit our Club. We thank him for sharing his knowledge and passion for Rotary. We look forward to working together to continue and strengthen Rotary’s positive impact in our community and beyond!