District governor addresses Rotary Club

By Emily Banks Wooten
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Rotary District Governor Demetress HarrellRotary District Governor Demetress Harrell recently served as guest speaker for the Rotary Club of Livingston. A resident of Lufkin and a professional in the healthcare field, Harrell was installed as the 2022-2023 District Governor for District 5910 on June 18, 2022. The Rotary Club of Livingston is just one of the 41 clubs she will visit this year.

“Rotary is a part of life,” Harrell said, referring to Rotarians’ work in continuing to fight polio, as well as to protect the environment.

“We want to live in a world of peace,” she said, mentioning the 180 countries that were represented at the Rotary International Convention in Houston this past summer. “For us, when we walk outside this door, we want peace. We work to serve, every single one of you.”

Harrell said she was first invited to Rotary in 1997 and then joined Rotary in 1998.

“We cannot grow Rotary if we don’t ask. Today we have over 1.4 million members around the world,” Harrell said.

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“Service never stops. I’ve seen the growth and the impacts made. The story is how we evolve and share. What I want you all to understand is your commitment to Rotary and that we enjoy our service,” she said.

Harrell encouraged local Rotarians to download the “My Rotary” account, learn about the new polio plus society, use “Club Runner” and “Club Central.”

“We have to know what our goals are and these are essential for you to have,” she said.

In closing, Harrell shared her three initiatives. The first is to empower girls through literacy. “Do something that will enhance the quality of life for young women in your community,” she said. The second is to work to end Alzheimer’s disease and the third is to expand the polio plus society through $100 donations.

“Let’s grow Rotary. It’s all about collaboration. We want to grant the opportunity to show what you do – support, teamwork, motivation, success – to be innovative and creative. We believe there is good in the world. Thank you for being Rotarians who make a difference,” Harrell said.