Christine Burns, District 7890 Governor
Christine joined the Holyoke Rotary Club in 2004, she served as president in 2008-2009 and as Assistant District Governor from 2010— up until her current role as District Governor. She is also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Being involved not only in her local Club and the District but also internationally, is an aspect she enjoys providing her with a full Rotary experience. She currently is an active member of two Rotary fellowships: (1) International Fellowship of Quilters and Fiber Artists and (2) International Fellowship of Scouting Rotarians. Her passion is helping alleviate food insecurity in children. Christine chairs the Holyoke Public Schools weekend backpack program which provides food for kids on weekends and vacations when they're not in school to receive free
breakfast and lunch. She is a children's entertainer and teacher of music by trade and has received many honors for this including: Businesswoman of the Year in 2008 and Woman to Watch in Creative Arts in 2010. She currently resides in Holyoke, Massachusetts, with her husband, Patrick, and daughter, Pearl.
Christine brought a sense of drive and enthusiasm to her presentation, along with strong beliefs, to the club on what she is hoping for the district this year.
1. Rotary as we look for new members needs to remember that Time, talent, and treasure are not always found in the same person. We need to be look for people to join Rotary who may not have all 3 traits.
2. Religion doesn't belong in Rotary. Meetings need to be comfortable to people of all faiths or no faiths.
3. Training will be an emphasis for the district this year with monthly Zoom trainings. The first one will be on using Clubrunner on 8/28
4. Mental Health Awareness is a Rotary emphasis this year.
5. Rotary has hundreds of Fellowships for people who are interested in topics and activities. She is suggesting that this is something we should all check out as a great way of expanding our knowledge and contacts with the wide world of Rotary.
6. Save 10/14 for the "Battle of the Boarder" when the Springfield Thunderbirds vs the Hartford Wolf Pack at Rotary Night.
7. She also thinks we should look at DEI in a more expansive way to include more than race or gender but also look at ways to make the clubs more affordable deversify by economic status as well.
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