Dist. 6200 Governor Acosta applauds Crowley’s efforts

As of July 1, 2013, Tom Acosta Jr. became Rotary International’s District 6200 governor.

He had been preparing for the undertaking for two years, but during those two years, something happened for Acosta.

“You quickly gain an appreciation for the level of service in Southwest Louisiana,” he said.

That level of service and generosity, according to the district governor, has been on display with the Rotary Club of Crowley for some time now.

As he spoke to the club Tuesday, he commented and applauded the now over 90-year-old service organization that now sits at more than 80 members, one of the largest in the district.

“Having a Rotary Club in a community, particularly an active one, is not something to take for granted,” said Acosta.

The District 6200 governor went through the highlights of the clubs activeness, including its ongoing support of Miss Helen’s Soup Kitchen, providing books to prisoners, participating in the city’s clean-up day and Career Expo, supporting international projects and many more.

Acosta also applauded the club’s continued support of The Welcome House, adding he wished more clubs would be willing and able to take on projects of that size.

The district, which moved from 51 clubs to 49 over the past year has continued to encourage clubs to be active and recruit new members. The Rotary Club of Crowley, Acosta reported, is exceeding its membership acquisition goal. At the beginning of its club year, the Rotary Club of Crowley had 77 members. It will soon welcome its 81st.

After applauding the club’s efforts, Acosta turned his attention to Rotary International’s 2013 theme, put forth by Rotary International President Ron Burton, “Engage Rotary. Change Lives.”

While Burton explained his ideas behind the theme in months past, Acosta explained to the Crowley club what it means to him.

The first part, “engage Rotary”, means to make a commitment and do something for Rotary. He pointed out that Crowley is an engaged club in the ideal way, as well as the other ways Burton recommends for those clubs that aren’t as active–membership and giving to the foundation.

Acosta congratulated the club for maintaining its standing as a club that gives to the Rotary International Foundation and reminded members, particularly those that have never invited someone to the club that there are many people out there would make great Rotarians, “the only thing they lack is an invitation.”

He then turned his attention to the second part of the theme, “Change Lives.”

Acosta said it is Rotarians and their families that have their lives changed most by Rotary, but he was quick to point at how many lives are changed through service projects, whether its the homeless through projects like The Welcome House or children through the club’s literacy and nutrition program and many more.

Finally, Acosta made a special presentation to Rotarians that, like himself, are veterans and led the club in singing a verse from “God Bless America” before welcoming all to the 2013-14 District 6200 Conference.

The conference will be held in the spring in Port Allen. He reminded members they can begin pre-registering now and explained there would be a special surprise at the close-out lunch.