Governor's Message

July 2010

Greetings Fellow Rotarians!

Talk about pressure!!! Next to my photo I read “Coming Soon Governor Karlis’ Message”  - - Whoa!!! What message? Yes, the pressure mounts, priorities change, and the clock hands just seem to fly.  Believe it or not another exchange of the baton of Rotary leadership has just taken place – as it does every year on July 1.  

Yesterday as I was being bombarded with e-mail and telephonic congratulatory messages, I thought to myself – This is nice, I think I’ll just bask in it - I’ve certainly spent a great deal of my time getting ready,  and had every right to be appreciating the calls and letters.  I thank all of you who sent encouragement and congratulations.

Then came the next day - - my computer crashed (had not experienced a computer crashing before – oh why now?!).  You can well imagine the frantic pace of priorities flashing before me as I was patiently waiting and hoping that the computer could be fixed.  Once fixed I immediately went to the District’s web-site to see what needed to be changed there and noticed that the Webmaster had announced on the district’s web page that a message was forthcoming from me, “soon”, and apparently the only person who wasn’t aware of this was me!   I thought I had more time to address the matter, but no - - there it was on the web-site telling the world that I’m holding up the process. 

What wisdom could I share?  Not that easy – not that quick - - what subject - - And just like that it came to be.  While many of you who have attended the District events have gotten to know me, many more in the district have not.  My thought is that perhaps it would be best to let everyone know a bit more about me other than just my photo, name, and title as seen on the Web-site. 

I love to travel, and have had the opportunity to do so across the country and around the world.  However, I’ve not traveled around Virginia very much, but I know that I will be shortly.  As I am preparing for my “official visits”  I am looking forward to meeting each and every Rotarian in the District.  I hope I get the opportunity to shake hands and thank every one of you for all that you do as Rotarians, as I make my way to all of the clubs, between now and the end of September.  I really am looking forward to this experience.

In preparing for the year ahead, I’ve not participated much on the golf courses and have had to miss some significant bowling tournaments but I do enjoy both activities immensely when I do participate. Bowl-a-thons – while not the same as tournaments or for that matter even league bowling, are a lot of fun.  I’m hoping to be keep my edge by participating whenever asked.  So, if you’ve got a bowl-a-thon scheduled – I hope you’ll give me a shout and provided I haven’t already committed to something else – I’ll be there.

I know that it has been customary for Rotarian leaders to always be seen with their spouses at Rotary events and have their pictures together on Rotary business cards etc…That isn’t me. 

Allow me to introduce to you Beverly, my wife of 43 years, approaching 44 this July 31st.  She is very involved in running our family business and enjoys the symphony, ballet, theatre, and reading among other interests like cooking, traveling, and red wine.  The latter two I can appreciate as well.  Our two sons, Karlis, Jr. and John Arthur are both married and each has given us two grandchildren to cherish and watch grow.  They both are employed by the family business known in the Richmond metro area as Tuckaway Child Development and Early Education Centers.

I really do value the support I’ve received from my family as I take on the responsibilities as Governor of District 7600. 

I joined Rotary in July of 1987 and have not looked back.  I am deeply committed to making sure that Rotary is seen for what it is - - an organization made up of men and women dedicated to its mission of doing good in the world.  And in that regard I must urge every one of you to proclaim the chore values of Rotary, “Ethics, Honesty, Integrity, Diversity, and Leadership”.  If you do this and our membership will soar.  It has to; people want to be part of an organization that champions what the 4-way test represents.

Yet, I have noticed over the years that we as Rotarians don’t toot our own horn enough and thus the chore values are lost on the public from which comes our membership. Toot that horn; be proud of what you support and what we do – not just for our communities but for the people of the world. Be proud of the pin that identifies you as a Rotarian, and at the same time – as a person one can trust.

THE FUTURE OF ROTARY IS IN YOUR HANDS