Loretta Butts to “Light Up” Rotary as District Governor for 73 Rotary Clubs in Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties
Atascadero, CA (PRWEB) July 02, 2014 -- Loretta Butts, Charter President of the Rotary Club of Templeton and current member of the Rotary Club of Atascadero, was installed as governor of Rotary International’s District 5240 during a special ceremony at Oxnard Marriott Courtyard, in the afternoon of Saturday, June 28th. Hundreds of Rotarians from throughout the district, which encompasses clubs in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and Kern counties, attended.
In her first moments as governor, Butts acknowledged the honor that had been bestowed on her as the District Governor of such a dynamic and successful Rotary district and encouraged everyone to exemplify Rotary International’s theme for the 2014-2015 year — “Light up Rotary” with acts of service above self that help illuminate their communities and the world.
The afternoon included presentations of awards from outgoing district governor Jack McClenahan to members of clubs throughout the district.
As a District Governor, Butts will utilize the first six months to spend time at each of the 73 clubs in the district which means that she and husband, John, will spend half a year “on the road”. The second half of the year will focus on supporting the Rotarians in the District with their service projects and fundraising goals.
Butts was selected to serve the district nearly three years ago by a committee of District 5240 Past District Governors. She explained that governors are selected so far in advance because successful candidates must attend multiple training sessions and Rotary International meetings.
She has been a resident of the Central Coast for 25 years since her move in 1989 from the San Francisco Bay area to Atascadero. In that time she has served as the Chair of the San Luis Obispo County Commission on the Status of Women, on the Board of Directors of Life Span Services and Chair of the program advisory committee for the EOC Adult Day Care program in Templeton, CA. After serving a term on the board of the North County Women’s Shelter, she was one of the founding members of the Friends of the North County Women’s Shelter committee.
Through her work with Rotary International, she has traveled to Nigeria to assist in Rotary’s goal of eradicating polio while identifying the need for other Rotary sponsored programs and services during her visit. She has also traveled to Uganda representing District 5240 Rotarians responsible for a significant grant to provide furnishings and supplies for a medical clinic and living facilities for staff in a remote village outside of Lira.
Since joining Rotary in 1994, Butts has had the honor of being selected Rotarian of the Year while also being a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Rotary Foundation Benefactor and a member of the Paul Harris Society. Her husband, John, is also a Paul Harris Fellow as are other members of her family.
As a seventh generation Californian, Butts has deep roots in the land of the District. She has 3 grown children and 10 grandchildren. When not doing Rotary, she enjoys her family, reading, music, gardening, fly fishing, golf and Giants baseball.
About Rotary and District 5240
District 5240 is made up to 73 Rotary clubs in Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern Counties with over 3,500 members. For more information, visit GetRotary.org.
Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.2 million members of more than 34,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work impacts lives at both the local and international levels, from helping families in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.
Brian Rocha, Rotary District 5240, http://www.GetRotary.org/?utm_source=PRWeb&utm_medium=PR&utm_campaign=LorettaButts, +1 8054717954, [email protected]
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