Dear Fellow Rotarians,

Rotary is so much more than the sum of its parts. Every program of Rotary - the club and district activities, the scholarships and exchanges, and the vast and varied humanitarian projects- serves a different purpose. No two clubs anywhere are exactly alike, and it is this diversity that is our strength. Together, we show the world that a
better future is possible anywhere and everywhere and that generosity of spirit, tolerance for differences, and high moral values are not obstacles to
success but the path to success.

In a world full of ethical practical and necessary than by what tugs at our emotions. We must identify real needs and work fl exibly and cooperatively. Rotary service cannot be a one-way street; every project must be a partnership with those we wish to help.

Throughout the world, there are somany tremendous needs. As Rotarians,it is easy to want to meet them all, butas practical people, we know that wemust apply our efforts where they cando the most good. For this reason, I havechosen water management, literacy,health and hunger, and the family of Rotary as my emphases for 2006-07

Outside of Rotary,thereis countries and tolerance of far too little awareness of differences is so vital to the shortage of clean, safe peace, Rotary provides a water in the developing much-needed example of world. If a natural disaster solid integrity, wiped out 6,000 children international cooperation,under the age of five in and the spirit of volunteerism.

My theme forthe 2006-07 Rotaryyear,Lead the Way, refl ects my belief in thepower of Rotarians to change the world.Together,1.2 million Rotarians willLead the Way to a brighter futurethrough fellowship and service.

Today's world needs heroes, notcelebrities. All of us in Rotary areordinary people with busy lives, strivingto do our best.Quietly, inthousands ofdifferent ways, we are working to makethe world a better, healthier,and saferplace. I believe strongly that we, asRotarians, must be motivated in ourchoice of service much more by what is

one day,itwould be on the front pageof every newspaper. And yet, 6,000children do die,every single day,fromwaterborne illnesses.This is a situationthat can be addressed very effectivelythrough small-scale projects on a locallevel and has been addressed throughsuccessful Rotary projects for manyyears. I encourage clubs and districtsthroughout the Rotary world to expandon this work and focus on bringingclean water wherever it is needed, onecommunity at a time.

As a member of a family of readers, literacy has always been very important to me, and its value to society can hardly be overestimated. Literacy is aprerequisite for democracy,stability,and prosperity in a nation; it has thepotential to halt the cycle of poverty andbringabetterlifetothe nextgeneration.Literacy has been a Rotary priority formany RI presidents and must remainhigh on our agenda.

Health and hunger concernsencompass much of the work thatRotaryclubs do atthelocal level.Theseprojects are at the very core of Rotaryservice and brought us to the great workof PolioPlus.We must continue to workfor polio eradication until it is achieved,and pursue the many and varied healthand hunger projects that Rotary isknown for worldwide.

In 2006-07, I would like to return to thefamily of Rotary and the emphasis oncaring equally for everyone in theRotaryfamily.Youth programs, such asYouth Exchange, Interact, and Rotaract,are vital to ensuring the health ofRotary's future.They also furtherRotary's workby instilling a sense ofintegrity,tolerance,and unselfi shness

in the next generation. And caring for Rotarian families and spouses can only strengthen Rotary.

In 2006-07, I will ask Rotarianseverywhere to focus on the possibilitiesthat Rotary brings to each individual andthat each individual brings to Rotary.Together,we will Lead the Waytoevengreater successes.And together,wewillcontinue to identify real needs, workwith communities and institutions, andsee that those needs are addressed ina practical, sustainable way, notthrough idealism and wishful thinkingbut through steady effort and soundknowledge.

As Rotarians, we know that it is not enough to dream about a better world. A better world will only come through careful planning, honest cooperation, and hard work.

As Rotarians, we will not just wait for it to happen.

Together,we will Lead the Way.

W.B.(Bill) Boyd
President, Rotary International, 2006-07