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My Fellow Rotarians,
Someone once said that the membership of an organization is made up of four bones:
There are the wishbones, who spend all their time wishing someone else would do the work.
There are the jawbones, who do all the talking, but very little else.
There are the knucklebones, who knock everything that everybody else tries to do.
And finally, there are the backbones, who carry the load and do the work.
I know how we all like to imagine ourselves as the backbones. But are we? Do we really carry the load and do the work at all times and in all situations? I think that if we are honest with ourselves, most of us would have to admit that, at some point or another, we have been one of those first three bones - wishing, talking and criticizing instead of acting.
I expect that you all have the desire to be backbones when you serve as district governor, and you should be. But how will you do it?
I can assure you that you already have many of the qualities of a strong, hardworking leader. To be selected to serve as district governor, you have had to prove your leadership ability, earn the respect and admiration of your fellow Rotarians, and demonstrate your ability to get the job done.
Yet I also see that as the leaders of the leaders, you want to reach even higher goals. Otherwise you would not be here. Every one of you has accepted this responsibility with great expectations, filled with the highest aspirations and the loftiest ideals.
And so I ask you how will you reach those heights? What will you do to become that exemplary District Governor who lives in your imagination?
To help you define how you want to fulfill your duties in the coming year, I would like to share with you the words of a H. Gordon Selfridge, the British entrepreneur who founded the successful department store chain that bears his name. He said:
"The Boss drives his men, the Leader coaches them.
The Boss depends upon authority, the Leader on goodwill.
The Boss inspires fear, the Leader inspires enthusiasm.
The Boss says 'I,' the Leader says 'we."
The Boss fixes the blame for the breakdown, the Leader fixes the breakdown.
The Boss says 'go,' the Leader says 'LET'S GO'"
I do not doubt that everyone gathered here would rather to be a leader than a boss. But again, the question is - how?
In answering this question, consider that success results from ability plus training. Your success will hinge upon your talents, your aspirations and the experience that has brought you thus far mixed with the compendium of information you receive at this Assembly. An untrained leader, even with the best of intentions, will resort to bossing and bullying under stress. Since you are guaranteed to have at least a few stressful moments in the coming year, it is wise to prepare as thoroughly as possible.
So let's consider what you will need to lead.
You will need a mission. You will need communication skills. You will need to operate from a vantage point. You will need knowledge. And you will need your personal values.
First and foremost, you need a mission, and your mission is made up of goals, strategies and vision. Together, they form the message that you must convey to all of the Rotarians in your district. The clarity of this message is critical to an effective year.
Formulating clear goals and effective strategies is the first step in preparing to serve as district governor. During your term, you have an opportunity to make a significant impact on the future. Once the year starts, you won't have as much time to plan so the time to plan is now. Work out as much as you can in advance know what you want to do, and how you want to do it.
As committed Rotarians, you probably already have a good understanding of the affairs in your district. If you have admired how things have been done, by all means emulate those very things during your own term. If you have been critical of how certain things have been done you will now have the opportunity to make improvements. Either way, this is your chance to translate your dream into reality.
As you create your goals and strategies, remember that an effective leader will think clearly, formulate ideas carefully, and accurately communicate those thoughts and ideas. Haphazard thinking results in poor communication and loss of credibility. Haphazard thinking also implies a lack of consideration towards hardworking club presidents and other Rotarians throughout your district.
You will find that the Rotarians in your district are more than willing to join in an effort that is meaningful, constructive and most of all understood. I am reminded of the words of the French philosopher Pascal, who apologetically wrote these words to a friend: "I have made this letter longer than usual because I lack the time to make it shorter." Take the time to focus your goals and strategies.
Clearly articulated goals and strategies are critical to your success. But as important as they are, they aren't much use without your vision. A goal states what you want to do. A strategy defines how you want to do it.
And a vision explains why.
It is this vision that will inspire your clubs. You should believe in it wholeheartedly, because when you do, your vision becomes a beacon that lights the rest of your leadership path. It is this vision that will give your clubs the passion to put strategies into effect in order to achieve goals. And it is this vision that will keep them moving forward when they come face-to-face with obstacles and over the course of twelve months you and your district are likely to encounter obstacles.
Once you have crystallized your goals, strategies and vision, you must communicate them to every Rotarian in your district. Effective communication requires a thorough understanding of your audience, so well in advance of your year, you should make a survey of your district learn about the clubs, the presidents and the members.
In considering how you will best convey your message to this audience, look around you to see how the leaders you respect operate. Look at the places of worship that you know the church, the mosque, the synagogue or the Bhuddist temple. Look at the classroom, or other places where people receive instructions. Look at your own Rotary club.
How do you know which one is the leader?
Quite simply, the leader is the one in front.
As the leader, you are quite literally in front of the group - after all, a large part of your job is to give information to the group. You must do this in a way that will get their attention, hold it, and keep it from beginning to end. Taking your position front and center is a simple, time-honored way to accomplish this.
But also consider what it means to be in front of the group in a more symbolic way. Being in front means that you are operating from an informed vantage point - you are in a strategic position that provides an overview of the whole group. Being in front also means that you are highly visible which is a good thing since people must be able to find you quickly and easily.
At all times operate from this position. Stay informed. Be accessible by mail or telephone. Your club presidents should have prompt access to you, as well as prompt replies from you. Your monthly letter is a wonderful tool for communicating your message, and so are your club visits. Do not underestimate the effectiveness of these simple but powerful methods of maintaining your visibility with every Rotarian in your district.
When you lead from this vantage point, it is essential that you cultivate the culture of leadership by example. You're out in front so everyone will be watching to see you perform and to see the results of your efforts. As a result, you control the thermostat for a healthy work atmosphere. You regulate the climate for acceptable behavior and people in your organization who will, in turn, adapt to your style. Your district, indeed the entire Rotary world, craves dynamic leadership that unites rather than divides Rotarians, and they are looking to you to set the tone.
Reflect upon the words of that great scientist, humanitarian and Rotarian Albert Schweitzer who said, "Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing."
Part of the example you set will be your attitude and disposition toward others. Be friendly to club presidents build a personal relationship with them. Remember that you are the leader of a team. Remember also that part of your job as leader is to cultivate the next generation of leaders. Leadership development is a continual process and you can set an example in this area, too. As you visit your clubs, encourage all Rotarians to volunteer for committees and district jobs. Don't continue the comfortable yet dangerous pattern of relying on the same few capable men and women year after year.
There is one capable person in particular that you must not expect to do everything. You. Do not attempt to do everything yourself - instead groom future leaders by delegating tasks and giving others the opportunity to shine. And remember that successful delegation depends on knowing what to give away and what to keep. By all means, give away the authority. But by all means, you keep the responsibility.
This is a much better deal than it seems when you consider that your success is measured not by your achievements, but by the achievements of the Rotarians throughout your district.
In addition to developing a clear mission that is clearly communicated to Rotarians in your district, and in addition to positioning yourself at the front and leading by example you must be knowledgeable. There is an old joke that goes like this: "the first essential for leadership is finding a group of ignorant guys to follow you."
The Rotarians that you lead at club Presidents-Elect Training Seminars and indeed, everyone else you will encounter during your year are far from ignorant. To them, you must be the most knowledgeable Rotarian in the district. To stay ahead of them will require diligence. Even the past district governors will demand information from you, because your knowledge is the most current. You will be the most recent graduates of the "Rotary University of Anaheim." No one else in the district can use the "degree" of "DG" after his or her name during 2003-2004.
Everyone will want solutions to their problems and guidance on important Rotary issues. They will need timely and accurate information. And they will need it from you.
Lawyers, although in a slightly different context, have a term for this: NEMO DAT QUOD NON HABET. That's Latin, meaning "You cannot give what you do not have."
So learn all you can about Rotary, and know how to find the information you do not have. Make it a habit to read THE ROTARIAN, Rotary World and Rotary News Basket. Become a regular visitor to the Rotary International web site, for up-to-the-minute information. In addition to general information, the RI web site includes a business portal. Through this portal, district governors and district governors-elect can access special web sites designed to give you the specific information you need in preparing for your term and carrying out your duties as district governor.
Finally to be the leader that you most want to be - you will need your personal values. One of the more challenging and fulfilling aspects of leadership is that it motivates you to perform at your personal best. Your ability to stay true to your personal ideals will grow stronger because they will constantly be put to the test.
In terms of leadership, I believe the following are universal values we all wish to uphold.
You want to be reliable. There once was a district governor who encouraged Rotarians in his district to give generously to The Rotary Foundation, which they did. Unfortunately, the district governor not only failed to take the time to secure recognition for the donors, he also failed to show up at a special event to present Paul Harris Fellow Awards. You will want to do better than this. You will want to follow through on all commitments. You will want people to trust your word.
You want to be punctual, acting promptly at all times. When your club presidents make a request, or when the Secretariat needs information, it is important that you respond in a timely fashion. You are part of the Rotary wheel of service any delay on your part could cause a clog in the cogs.
You want to be confident. When you feel doubts or concerns about your ability to lead, you do not want to convey them to those around you. People need to look to you for strength. Remember these words of the American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson: "They can conquer who believe they can. He has not learned the first lesson of life who does not every day surmount a fear."
You want to be respectful. Honor those who have gone before you. It is natural to come roaring into the office of District Governor full of new ideas and big ambitions. But it is not helpful for your clubs and districts to feel that their prior leadership fell short of the mark. Remember to recognize the contributions of your predecessors.
You want to be friendly. Everybody loves a friendly person. Make Rotarians in your district indeed everywhere your friends. There is a common expression "Friends are made by many acts and lost by only one." Many years from now, when you look back on your year as district governor, you will treasure the friendships you made over any other accomplishments.
If you apply these principles, your year will be marked by remarkable district achievement as well as your own personal satisfaction. You will be an inspiration to the Rotarians throughout your district. The vast majority of you will serve in this great capacity but one time but every one of you will be a Rotary leader for life. Your influence as a past district governor depends on your performance during the year of your term.
I invite you to reflect upon the words of John Galsworthy: "I shall pass through this world but once; any good things, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, or animal, let me do now. Let me not deter it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."
No, we shall not pass this way again - therefore let us seize the day and live each moment to the best of our abilities. Let us commit ourselves, with all of our hearts and all of our strength, to Lend A Hand as Rotary's leaders in 2003-04.
Thank you. | 
