The Governor's Visit: An Encounter with the Magic of Rotary
The official visit of the Governor of the Sforzesco Group, which brings together the Rotary Clubs Morimondo Abbazia, Abbiategrasso, Vigevano Mortara, Lomellina, Vigevano Castello and Cairoli, took place on Friday 11 October at the Le Rotonde restaurant in Garlasco. This annual event represents a significant moment for each club, as the Governor brings the message of the International President directly to local realities.
Massimiliano Pini, Governor of District 2050 for the Rotary Year 2024-2025, shared with those present the guidelines outlined by International President Stephanie Urchick. The theme of the year, “The Magic of Rotary”, inspired the whole evening.
The Magic of Rotary
During his speech, Pini cited an episode told by Stephanie Urchick, a member of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, USA, to explain the true meaning of the annual motto. Urchick recalled his experience installing water filters in a community in the Dominican Republic. Two boys, fascinated by the process of transforming dirty water into clean water, asked her to see "the magic" again. “Obviously, it was not magic, but the result of intense work and local collaboration,” Urchick emphasized. “But for those kids, that transformation represented a concrete and tangible hope for a better future.”
Rotary's priorities for 2024-2025
The Governor then outlined Rotary's priority goals for the new year:
- Promote peace
- Supporting the environment as Rotary's new path of action
- Continue global efforts to fight Polio
M. Pini also illustrated the International Rotary Action Plan, focused on four key points:
- Increase impact
- Expand your reach
- Improve participant engagement
- Increase the ability to adapt
A Growing Rotary
The evening was also an opportunity to celebrate the new members of Rotary and Interact. Five young people from the Interact Bramante club of Vigevano were officially "pinned" and introduced into the Rotarian family. Girls from the Youth Exchange (RYE) program and a participant from the NGSE (New Generations Service Exchange) program were also introduced.
An event with great participation
The participation of the Morimondo Abbazia Rotary Club was among the most significant of the evening, with 22 members present. The Governor concluded the meeting by inviting clubs to be increasingly innovative and open to new ideas, to actively involve both current and future members.
