VP Rotary welcomes district governor

September 29, Meeting
Rotary District #6200 District Governor Mike Hayes. Hayes, addressed the September 29, meeting of the Ville Platte Rotary Club. A resident of Westlake, he joined the Rotary organization in 2000. He has since served as president of the Westlake Rotary Club in 2002-2003. He once again became club president in 2012, and he is currently still serving the club in that capacity.
Hayes also has served the Rotary organization in other roles, including District Community Service Chair, District Vocational Service Chair and then as Assistant District Governor for three years and Lieutenant Governor for one year. He is currently serving as District Governor for the 2015-2016 year. He has served as Program Chair for RYLA for 10 years and as a counselor for three years.
In addressing the Ville Platte membership, Hayes shared his history with Rotary and his belief in the organizations’s values. He used the Rotary’s Four Way Test to explain how the organization values truth, fairness, good will and being of service to the community. He said that fairness is the hardest value to follow because treating people equally does not necessarily mean treating them fairly. Treating others fairly requires understanding and acceptance. He noted that through his involvement with Rotary, he has gained many valuable friendships throughout the world. He also said that Rotarians, when discussion projects, should make sure the project is of value not only to the club, but to members of the entire community that may be affected by the project. He encouraged members to embrace the Rotary values and “be a gift to the world,” which is the Rotary International motto for this club year.
In closing, President Mitch Fontenot reminded members that the new member induction ceremony will be held during the November 3 weekly meeting.