2023-24 President George Linial spoke to the club about his vision for the club this year. He believes that our club is one of the finest in the district – we “punch above our weight,” are a diverse club, and a great team. We have a good foundation and provide good opportunities for service but need more membership growth. George showed us some slides showing how much time we spend on average on various activities and also how much time he believes he has spent on Rotary over his 22 years as a member. He calculated that as 65 days, which equates to less than 1% of his time, which is not much. George also discussed “Why Rotary?” He says Rotary has a long and distinguished history that accomplishes great things, both large and small, both local and global, and we have a committed membership. Most members have been Rotarians for long periods of time. He believes that people want connection and want to serve but may not know where to go. Rotary provides a structure for making connections and serving others. Anyone who believes in “Service above Self” is welcome! George told us about RI President Gordon McInally’s priorities of mental health, peacebuilding through virtual exchanges and empowering girls. George also wants to prioritize building on our existing service projects, finding other avenues of service, and growing our membership. Austin has many newcomers and many retirees, both of which could be prime prospects for new membership. Think about we could accomplish with more members!