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Q&A: Rotarys new era

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  • Originally published July 18, 2008 at 12:07 a.m., updated July 18, 2008 at 12:07 a.m.

The new Rotary governor looks forward to setting off a new campaign to prevent curable diseases.

Russell Cain became district governor of 5930 on June 28 after serving 30 years with the Port Lavaca Club. He began his duties July 1 – the same day the new, national Make Dreams Real campaign began. Rotary International, a world community service organization, had worked to eradicate polio with its Polio Plus campaign since 1985.

Rotary has more than 200 members in Victoria and 2,500 members in the district, he said.

Russell Cain discusses his governorship. His wife Cherre Cain, a member of the Calhoun County Morning Rotary, discusses the new campaign.

Q:What are your goals as district governor?

A: (Russell): I just wanted to give back to the community, after what it’s given to me and Cherre. I wanted to further the cause of Rotary through the humanitarian efforts of all Rotarians through the district and the world. We’re visiting clubs for about four months. I’m going to be reiterating what the international president D.K. Lee - what his goal is for decreasing child mortality. You don’t have to belong to Rotary to donate to the Rotary Foundation. Any amount is appreciated and needed.

A:(Cherre): And it goes toward a matching grant that the Bill Gates Foundation gave us of $100 million.

Q:Why a new campaign?

A: (Cherre): If a child is lucky enough to live to the age of 5, he normally gets sick from sanitation diseases, which are normally malaria, dysentery, pneumonia. Not only are we going in and trying to solve the water problem, we’re tackling the sanitation end of it, too. We’re building toilets. We’re feeding the children. There are 12,000 children that die a day drinking contaminated water. This is a new era for Rotary. It’ll carry on and on for years until it’s done.

Q:Why is this important?

A: (Cherre): Make Dreams Real isn’t about dreaming. It’s about giving a children a chance to awaken to live life.

Q:Why should residents get involved with Rotary?

A: (Cherre): If you get involved with the community, you’re giving back to the world.

A: (Russell): When you give money to the Rotary Foundation, it comes back to your district in three years. That money can be used as any kind of project, like water.

A: (Cherre): And hunger, literacy, education.

A: (Russell) : Anything to do with humanitarian needs.

Q:Final thoughts?

A:(Cherre): We’ve succeeded in our dream of eradicating polio. Now we’re taking on decreasing child mortality around the world.

Tara Bozick is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact her at 361-580-6504 or tbozick@vicad.com, or comment on this story at www.VictoriaAdvocate.com.



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