Somebody’s Board
January 16, 2023
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To judge by my email, my comments of last week struck a chord with a lot of people. The largest number of comments were from
Past Post
Making Big Changes
January 16, 2023
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So many successes and non-successes in the world of Rotary can be traced back to Rotarians paying attention to the documents that define how Rotary
Zooming With Style
August 6, 2020
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We may be meeting on Zoom, or some other platform, for a while or for a long time. Either way, it would be of benefit
Board of Directors Training July 7, 2020.
July 8, 2020
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Board of Directors Training July 7, 2020.The Why factor of how a board of directors makes a difference in the Rotary Club, Community, and the
District Centric Rotary eClub
March 20, 2019
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I mentioned before that I probably was wrong in my idea about Rotary eClubs as Rotary lite. Now, I think every district should have an
Partnering with an eClub
March 20, 2019
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I have some thoughts about why your Rotary Club would want to see an eClub in your district. I was talking with my Rotary Club
Why You Should Join a Rotary eClub
March 20, 2019
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I am past district governor Steve Garrett. I want to share with you a few ideas about why you might want to join a Rotary
I Was Mistaken About This
February 25, 2019
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Here is what I have to say in this video: There is something about Rotary that I have long been wrong about. I have been
Opportunity
September 3, 2018
2 Comments
The LDS Church has announced their intention to no longer sponsor Boy Scout Troops. This is an opportunity for Rotary Clubs to take on a
Activity vs Progress
July 27, 2018
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A thought from PDG Steve Garrett about leadership using the example of the Processionary Pine Caterpillar to demonstrate the difference between simply being active and
Rotary Club of San Marino – June 15, 2017
June 17, 2017
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PDG Steve Garrett at the rotary Club of San Marino from Steve Garrett on Vimeo.
Policy Governance – Communications
February 8, 2017
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The creation of policies requires defining the ends, creating the authorization for someone to action in pursuit of that end and setting the limitations for
Policy Governance – Limitations
January 31, 2017
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Creating policies involves defining the ends or goals and it also involves authorizing someone to take action in pursuit of that end. In addition, the
Policy – Authorization
January 25, 2017
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Using a policy model for governance by a board of directors gives the organization operational definition. Beyond the board of directors establishing policies describing the
Policy Governance 101
January 17, 2017
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Let’s begin with a very basic question, what is the primary purpose of a board of directors? Are they the place where a group of
Policy Governance
January 11, 2017
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Over the past four decades I have served on the boards of directors of several organizations. One of my earliest board experiences was the board
Reinventing Your Rotary Club Board of Directors
August 9, 2016
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Question; Does the Board of Directors of your Rotary Club need to be reinvented?
A Dysfunctional Board of Directors
August 2, 2016
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I made this video several years ago for Board of Directors training. Ironically, we train everyone in Rotary; except the people in charge.
Board Governance
July 27, 2016
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The one thing your Rotary Club can do that will make your Board of Directors more effective with shorter board meetings and better results is
Rotary Jeopardy
July 20, 2016
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Weekly program given at the Rotary Club of Monrovia on July 7, 2016 The program was titled Rotary Jeopardy and centered on the idea of
The Pump
June 1, 2016
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The lessons from an old water pump about the Object of Rotary.
The Consequences of Women in Rotary
May 24, 2016
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A humorous look at why the men didn’t want to share the Rotary experience with women before 1987.
Your Rotary Club’s Relationship with Rotary International
May 17, 2016
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Do you know what defines the relationship between your Rotary Club and Rotary International. It is more of a franchisor franchisee relationship than a top
The Board of Directors
May 10, 2016
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A very important question; who is in charge of your Rotary Club. The board of directors or the club president.
Speakers at Your Weekly Meeting
April 27, 2016
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Speakers at weekly Rotary meetings are a key indicator of the health of a Rotary Club, and having speakers at the weekly meeting is a
The One Percenters
February 23, 2016
1 Comment
RI President Ravi suggest we run our Rotary Clubs like they are a business and that is an admonition based on a lot of common
The Men Who Brought Women into Rotary
February 9, 2016
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The story of the men who brought women into Rotary as told by the most tenured of women in Rotary, Past District Governor Sylvia Whitlock.
Fireside Chat
February 3, 2016
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A Fireside Chat used to be a common occurrence in every Rotary Club, maybe we should bring it back as a part of what we
Craft Talk
January 26, 2016
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The first of my intended Video Blogs; This one is about giving a craft talk.
Administrative Note
March 12, 2015
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Everyone needs to be careful about mixing business email with personal email. With that in mind please note that I have several email addresses. Please
Social Media for the Rotary Rose Float
January 14, 2015
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I am a past chairman of the Rotary Rose Float Committee; the people who raise the money and enter a float in the annual Tournament
A Billboard on Highway 50
September 3, 2014
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Traveler across the State of Nevada you might choose US Highway 50 as an interesting way to see some parts of the country on the
Resolving Conflicts
August 20, 2014
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I read the comments on LinkedIn several times a week; especially those in the groups relating to Rotary. What surprises me is how many clubs
A Million Smiles
August 13, 2014
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The loss of Robin Williams doesn’t bring much happiness to very many people, but he did bring millions of smiles to millions of people during
A Unique Experience
August 6, 2014
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Breakfast with a former Rotarian is a unique experience because I have met many former members but few former Rotarians. I thought she had moved
Renewed Leadership
July 23, 2014
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A hardy welcome to the privilege of leadership to all of the new Rotary Club residents and district governors. Have fun, if you don’t have
A Lesson from General Henry Robert
July 16, 2014
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It was over 130 years ago when Henry Robert was asked to preside over a public meeting being held in a church in his community.
A Stupid Tale
June 18, 2014
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Someone in my Rotary Club has done something stupid, stupid enough to make a national news broadcast. My fellow Rotarian isn’t stupid, but would admit
Magical Time
June 11, 2014
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The magical day when Rotary throws out of office all of those who provided leadership in their clubs and districts over the past year is
Missed Opportunity
May 22, 2014
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Committed to returning the Rotary Club of Temple City to active status I attended the inaugural meeting a couple days ago. One prospective member inquired
Do-Over
May 1, 2014
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I grew up in Temple City, California a few decades ago. As a Boy Scout I was recognized by the Rotary Club of Temple City
Over Engineered
April 9, 2014
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We all know the story of how the optimist and pessimist sees the glass as half full or half empty while the process engineer only
The Hubris of Leadership
April 2, 2014
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Reflecting on many of the most interesting people in my lifetime is cause for reflection and commentary on a few consistent ideas. One of those
Not Your Father’s Rotary Club
March 27, 2014
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Each week that I attend my Rotary Club reminds me this is not my Father’s Rotary Club. The people who were there when I joined
Demographic Clarification
March 18, 2014
1 Comment
My comments on March 13, 2014 seem to have created some distress among a few of my faithful readers, who misconstrued my comments as an
Gary Huang at the Rotary Club of San Marino
March 13, 2014
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RI President-elect Gary Huang visited my Rotary Club yesterday to recognize our 75th anniversary. He brought a little fun with his trade mark happy clap;
Refocusing Membership Development
January 30, 2014
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Many years ago the president of a local Rotary club found the path to success in strengthening their club. The solution was quite simple; concentrate
Using the Easy Button
January 16, 2014
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The time is upon us, or recently passed, when we recruit, nominate and elect the next group of Rotary leaders as chairs, directors, presidents and
Another to Look at the Same Idea
January 9, 2014
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The comments generated by my opinions are always interesting; her is one from a friend Past District Governor Rod Eide from Orange County regarding my
Engagement
January 2, 2014
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The photo includes RI President Ron Burton and me while visiting the Rotary Float that Ron rode down Colorado Boulevard during the annual Tournament of
The Job of a Board of Directors
November 13, 2013
1 Comment
To judge by my email, my comments of last week struck a chord with a lot of people. The largest number of comments were from
Doing Your Job
November 7, 2013
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I heard the tale of a board of directors meeting that occurred yesterday and it reminded me of a story that never seems to go
Where Did The Fireside Chat Go?
October 30, 2013
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There was a time, many years ago, when Rotary Clubs routinely held an evening get together for new members to socialize and learn something about
Afterthought
October 17, 2013
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In my most recent posting, titled A Cautionary Note, I talked about the need for Rotarians to be cautious in dealing with youth. Over the
A Cautionary Note
October 9, 2013
3 Comments
It has been my privilege during the past few weeks to attend a number of meeting of one of the three Interact Cubs sponsored by
Enchanted Evening
September 26, 2013
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It was one of the most enjoyable evenings in many a year. Last night we attended a performance of Smokey Joe’s Cafe at the Pasadena Playhouse and were
Another Thought on Firing Volunteers
September 4, 2013
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Recent comments regarding firing volunteers generated a lot of interest from some very thoughtful Rotarians. I always enjoy hearing what other people think, even when
Four Words and Twenty Three Letters
August 21, 2013
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If numbers are important to you, you may have already noticed that the Rotary wheel has twenty four cogs and the Four Way Test is
Firing Volunteers
August 15, 2013
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There comes a time in every leaders tenure when the firing of a volunteer becomes a necessity. The necessity may arise from different circumstances, but
Time to Reconsider
July 31, 2013
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There was a time when many Rotary clubs made it a practice to charge members on a quarterly billing to support the Rotary Foundation and
Reflections of a Special Guest Blogger
July 3, 2013
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I am in Boston today, but a special friend offered his insight on my comments last week. With his permission, I offer the thoughts of
The Future Is Now
June 27, 2013
2 Comments
A funny thing happened on the way to the future; it changed. I am hearing from a lot of well tenured Rotarians about the oncoming changes
Leaders
June 12, 2013
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Have you ever pondered the great dilemma about how some companies in differing businesses are able to report consistent growth of revenue and earnings from
In The Arena
May 22, 2013
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Volunteers give their time, treasure and talent despite an abundance of folks who watch from the sidelines and offer their unsolicited critiques. I have to marvel at
Are All of These Rules Really Necessary?
April 25, 2013
2 Comments
I received an email from a long-time friend, Doug Vincent, who is representing District 7080 at the Council on Legislation. Doug commented as follows: “There
Back to Basics
April 15, 2013
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My Rotary Club recently took a step a step into the bright new world of Social Media by setting up their very own Facebook Page.
Changing the Small Stuff
April 3, 2013
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According to the Constitution of Rotary International there will be a Council on Legislation (COL) once every three years to make changes to the documents
Can We Learn Anything From This Lesson?
March 27, 2013
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Every weekly meeting at Rotary is like Forest Gump’s mama said ‘like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re gonna get.’ Well last
Customer Service at Its Best
March 7, 2013
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There are very few Rotary districts that do not stage an annual Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) program every year. I participated in our district
Principles over Personality
January 30, 2013
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Principles over Personality The important things that come from worthwhile endeavors and organizations can be described as similar to the layers of an onion. My
Conversion
January 23, 2013
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It is almost four decades since I joined the Rotary Club of Arcadia, California, and almost three decades since I attended my first Rotary International
Purpose
January 16, 2013
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One of the wealthiest and most successful people of his time, Andrew Carnegie believed that he shared a secret with all of those who were
Rotary International Policy as a Model
December 16, 2012
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Our friends and supporters at the office of Rotary International haven’t always used policies as the primary form of governance, but they have made a
Is Opportunity Knocking for You?
November 28, 2012
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This is the time of year when the Rotary Club nominating committee is diligently trying to find a willing and capable member of the club
The One Person With Two Jobs Challenge
October 31, 2012
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Some interpreted my message about a plan for better governance precludes chairs of Avenues of Service, the Rotary Foundation or Public Relations from being a member of
Plan for Better Governance
October 24, 2012
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One of the biggest problems mentioned by members of Rotary clubs is the concept of the Pareto principle, sometimes known as 80–20 rule or the
Plan Not to Fail
October 17, 2012
1 Comment
Providing my personal opinions on topics related to Rotary often provides me with interesting opportunities. Over the past few months several of those opportunities involve
Chaos and Creative Destruction
October 4, 2012
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Within the next few months I will celebrate my fortieth anniversary of entering the business of financial services. During that time I have watched many
Fun Raising While Creating Brand Awareness
September 26, 2012
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A couple of weeks ago I asked a simple question regarding new ideas on how the folks who enter a float for Rotary might raise
Interesting Responses
September 19, 2012
1 Comment
Over the past week several Rotarians provided their insight and opinions on the topic of the largest Public Relations project for Rotary; the entry of
Swoosh Between the Arches
September 12, 2012
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Everybody knows that the swoosh stands for Nike and the double arches stand for McDonalds restaurants. Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone recognized the Rotary wheel the same
Put Yourself in Their Shoes
September 5, 2012
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Can you imagine what it is like to be a young ambitious person in today’s economy? To have recently completed a course of study at
Missed Payday?
August 29, 2012
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Never having the experience of working for someone who failed to deliver a paycheck on the date and time expected leaves me with the question
O. P. M.
August 15, 2012
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One of my favorite themes is the idea of a Rotary Club raising money from the community at large; going outside of the club membership
Whiskbroom as a Leadership Tool
August 8, 2012
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This has been a very interesting week in many ways, including a few emails and letters from Rotarians with comments and questions. I have spent
Elevator Talk
August 1, 2012
1 Comment
My past as a salesman, sales trainer and sales manager is coming back to haunt me with the renewed call for every Rotarian having an
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
July 19, 2012
1 Comment
The illustration included with this message is a fair representation of what most Rotarians think a Rotary eClub meeting would look like. Having spent some
Shocking Discovery
July 12, 2012
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My last message on this blog/email contained a bit of cogent advice to all of those new Rotary Club presidents. For the sake of jogging
Renewal of Leadership
July 5, 2012
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The first week of July is like magic in the world of Rotary. We shake off all of those old stodgy leaders of last week and
It’s That Time of Year
June 27, 2012
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During the next few days some 34,000 Rotary club presidents will pass their gavel to a new group of leaders. This is a time for
Developing Acquaintances
June 21, 2012
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As you might expect of someone born during World War II, I signed up for Facebook with reluctance knowing it would turn into a giant
Adapt or Perish
June 13, 2012
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That admonition is equally applicable to organizations as it is to individuals. We don’t really have to go all the way back to the age
Stewardship of Members Financial Resources
June 6, 2012
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This is a time of financial strength for many of our members and it is simultaneously a time of financial stress for many others. Some
How is your Net Working?
May 30, 2012
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Yes, it is true that many people are drawn to Rotary by the idea of networking for business opportunities in the belief this is a
Having Fun with a Fine Tradition
May 23, 2012
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Our members (customers) join Rotary for a reason and leaders have the opportunity to meet part of their purpose in joining by giving them a
The Sound of Opportunity Knocking
May 16, 2012
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The more things change, the more they seem to remain the same. My membership in Rotary spans the better part of the past four decades
Stewardship of Time
May 9, 2012
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I can think of nothing more destructive to the good will and happiness of our members than the abuse of their time, money or talent.
But Change Does Happen
May 4, 2012
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Here is the NBC News broadcast on the evening of May 4, 1987. Bill Brooks was the president of the Rotary Club of Duarte on
Change Takes Time
April 29, 2012
2 Comments
Let me take you back in time to the NBC Evening News Broadcast of March 28, 1978. Do you remember Chet Huntley David Brinkley. A one minute video that
Exit Interviews
April 25, 2012
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The creation of an eClub for District 5300 seemed like a good idea. As a part of turning that idea into reality I obtained a
Join the Customer Service Team
April 11, 2012
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The Object of Rotary says that we are in the business of encouraging and fostering the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise
Maintain a Constancy of Purpose
April 4, 2012
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Our Purpose It is an important idea as that as Rotarians and Rotary leaders we understand our primary purpose as an essential strategy for life
Give Them A Pickle
March 28, 2012
1 Comment
Many years ago we hosted Robert “Bob” Farrell who founded Farrel’s Ice Cream parlors in Portland, Oregon in 1963. Farrell related a story of an
Customer Service
March 21, 2012
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Over a recent weekend I attended the Southern California and Nevada President-elect Training Seminar (PETS) where I was amazed by how much things have changed
The Role of a Past District Governor
March 10, 2012
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Past RI President Cliff Dochterman remarks that past district governors (PDG) never seem to die; they just accumulate. There seems to be truth in that