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I have been in Rotary for 23 years in four different Rotary clubs, Dickinson North Dakota, Menominee Wisconsin, Marshfield Wisconsin and now Jamestown North Dakota. I enjoyed Rotary projects and traveling to Guatemala and Nepal on those projects. I have been a president of my Rotary Club twice and an Assistant District Governor as well as serving on the Exec/finance committee, bylaws committee and the Foundation/grants committee. We have also hosted several Rotary Exchange students over the years. and traveled to their countries to visit in turn.

Claudette and I are both from northern North Dakota, Rugby and Upham respectively. We were both teachers. Claudette a phys ed and coach and I was chemistry, physics and math. I earned a MS and Ed D. in Educational Administration from UW- Milw and University of North Dakota and then spent some 30 years as a superintendent of schools in several different communities.

We have been married for 43 years and have two children, Candace and Pamela.

My hobbies are raising and riding purebred arabian horses, reading, hunting and fishing and traveling.

Jim has been a member of Rotary International since 1978:  Lincoln Club #14 (Downtown) since 1985 and Omaha West from 1978-1985.  He has served three terms on the Club #14 Board of Directors, and was President in 2007-08.  He has served District 5650 as a Foundation committee chair for more than two decades, first for Ambassadorial Scholars–Inbound, and most recently for Ambassadorial Scholars–Outbound.  He has attended three international conventions and numerous district officer training events and Foundation Seminars.
An Ohio native and former Michigan resident, Jim moved to Nebraska in December of 1977 to accept the position of Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  In 1984 he began working at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, first in Academic Affairs and then serving as Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs for 20 years.  He currently serves as a Professor in the UNL Department of Educational Administration.
Jim is married to Margaret Griesen, and they have four adult children and six grandchildren.  Before Rotary opened membership to women Margaret served as President of the Rotary Anns of Omaha.  Jim and Margaret are both Paul Harris Fellows and members of the Bequest Society.

Diann Kirby has been a member of the Rotary Club of Bloomington since 1999.  She chaired the club’s newsletter, program, special events and community service committees, and served as club president in 2006-07.  She has assisted District 5950 in several capacities, including assistant governor for Area 3 and co-chair of the 2010 district conference.

Diann was appointed the Director of Community Services for the City of Bloomington in 2007. She oversees Bloomington’s communications, human services, parks and recreation, public health and recreational facilities.  Previously, she served as Bloomington’s Communications Administrator, guiding the division to more than 30 local, state and national awards.  Diann’s early career included a five year stint as an anchor/reporter with NBC affiliate KWWL-TV in Waterloo-Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  There she covered beats ranging from health care to the Iowa legislature and governor’s office. 

Diann grew up on a farm near Cascade, Iowa.  She graduated magna cum laude from Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.  She holds a master’s degree in business communication from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.  She lives with her husband Newton Jr. and son Newton III in Minneapolis, Minnesota

Education:
Gary was educated in Pine Island High School in southern Minnesota. He attended Rochester Community College (AA) and the University of Minnesota with a degree in Economics. He served in the US Army and is a Vietnam veteran.
Work:
Gary began his career in manufacturing, working in production management. He spent nine years working for Minnesota Technology, Inc., a public non-profit, consulting with manufacturers in strategic planning and development and assisting in sales and marketing strategies. Gary also served as Director of the Minnesota Defense Consortium, managing a grant from the Department of Defense. For the past 10 years, he has owned his own business consulting small and medium manufacturers in sales and marketing strategies.
Gary is a pianist and organist and has had a 20 year career as choir director for parishes in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Community/Service:
Gary served the Minnesota Council of Gifted and Talented as a board member and for two years was co-president of the Council with his wife Sandy.
Gary has served on the board of directors for the Anoka-Hennepin Educational Foundation for 15 years and also served as president for 6 years.
Gary has been a member of the Anoka Rotary for 10 years and has served as secretary, president and both vocational and club chairs. He has attended many training seminars, district conferences and 3 international conventions.
Family:
Gary has been married to his wife, Sandy, for over 41 years. They have a daughter, Shannon, who lives in Big Lake with her family and a son, Chris who lives near Ann Arbor MI with his family. Gary and Sandy have 4 wonderful granddaughters.

On behalf of my wife Cindy and myself, I am happy to accept the position of District Governor Nominee for the great District 5970 of Rotary International. I am honored to be considered for this position and look forward to working with District leadership as I prepare and train to the DG in 2013-2014.

John Bender is President of Ament Engineering and Architecture in Cedar Rapids Iowa . Ament Inc. is a 30 person design firm with offices in Iowa and Illinois. John is a life-long resident of Iowa and attended Saint Ambrose University in Davenport Iowa and received his civil engineering degree at Iowa State University in Ames Iowa.  John has over 30 years experience in the engineering field in both municipal engineering and in the private engineering industry.  John and Cindy are residents of Marion Iowa and John has 20 plus years in the Marion-East Cedar Rapids Club. John has also served 4 years as an Assistant Governor for District 5970.

This will be a great experience to meet all the clubs in the District and learn from all of you and share ideas as we strive to take our District to the next level.  Together we can grow in Rotary and have fun in Rotary.  Thank you for this opportunity!

The Rotary journey for Jacque Andrew began in 1990 when she became a member of the Rotary Club of Jefferson.  She has served the club as president, board member, Rotary charity auction co-chair, public relations chair, youth chair/counselor/in-bound youth exchange host family, and numerous other roles and was the recipient of the club’s Service Award.  Appointed to her first District committee in 1994, she has served as an Assistant Governor; District Secretary and on Membership; EREY; RYLA; Literacy; Interact; PolioPlus; Governor’s Newsletter; Annual Giving; District Simplified Grants and Nominating committees.  She became a Paul Harris fellow in 1997, followed by Bequest Society, Benefactor and Paul Harris Society membership.  She attended Chicago and Salt Lake City International Conventions and Xicotepec project in 2012. Mentoring by many effective and inspiring leaders guided her experience in Rotary. 
Proud to be an Iowa native, Jacque earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and home economics from Iowa State University and master’s degree from Drake University in counseling and personnel services.             
Throughout her 25 year career in marketing, communications and human resources, Jacque has worked principally in the fields of healthcare and education.  For over 20 years she was a director for the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson, IA, in human resources and public/community relations and retired in 2011.    She served as president of professional organizations Iowa Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration and Iowa Vocational Guidance Association.  A graduate of the Association of Business and Industry’s Leadership Iowa program, she served as the chair of its board of governors.  She received the distinguished leadership award from the National Association for Community Leadership. 
State and community service has included: organizer and founding president (5 years) of the Greene County Community Foundation; board member and marketing chair, Iowa 4-H Foundation board, 6 years; board member, Arrowhead Area Education Agency, 12 years; Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation board, 6 years;  Iowa State University Extension, Citizens Advisory Committee, 3 years; and past president of a number of local civic and church groups.  For more than 20 years, Jacque, along with her sister and nieces, has operated the Webster county farm where she grew up. 
Jim is a graduate of The University of Iowa college of business and a Paul Harris fellow.  Actively involved in corn and soybean production as president/general manager of Andrew Farms, Inc., he was honored as an Iowa Master Farmer and ASA Conservationist of the Year.  He has served on the boards of Iowa and National Corn Growers, US Grains Council and Iowa and American Soybean Association in leadership roles and representing these groups at World Trade Organization (WTO) meetings worldwide and as a bio-tech advocate to the European Union.  Jim is an avid reader on history, business and politics and enjoys travel.
Blessed with three now grown daughters, Jane, Julia and Jennifer (Xicotepec 2003), Jacque and Jim find their growing family a true joy.   She pursues interests in travel, reading, technology, ISU athletics and gardening as much as possible.eve in and support the superior worldwide humanitarian
efforts of The Rotary Foundation.

David has been in Rotary since 2004 as a member of the Rotary Club of Green Bay. He is a member of the Paul Harris Society; he and his wife, Kim, are Level 2 Bequest Society members; and they recently participated in a NID in India. In addition, David helped initiate a new Rotary Club. He has served as District Trainer and District Club Vision Chair; and is also a member of the Midwest PETS Council.

At the Club level, he chaired The Rotary Foundation and Membership committees; as well as two community leadership service awards – one a fundraising event that generated $27,000. He was involved with the Club’s centennial project, which is now a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. David was also a Board member of the Rotary Foundation of Green Bay, Inc., the Club’s local foundation.

He is Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern Wisconsin and owner of Unique Business Solutions, LLC, a management consulting firm focused on strategy, marketing and M&As. In 2007, David authored a business strategy book, Pieces for Profit, and has worked at multi-billion international firms in roles relating to global marketing and strategic planning.

David is a Board member of the United Way of Brown County, chairing two initiatives; and member of his Parish Council. He is a former Board member and Executive Committee member of New North Inc., Green Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Advance Board for Economic Development, and Green Bay Symphony Orchestra; and former adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Originally from Milwaukee, David and Kim have lived in Green Bay since 2002. Kim is a school psychologist.

Dean Ryerson, DGN for District 6250 serving the clubs of West Central
and SW Wisconsin and a portion of E. Minnesota, is a member of the
Rotary Club of Madison West Towne-Middleton, in Madison, Wisconsin.
Prior to serving in that club Dean was a founding and charter member
of the Rotary Club of Wisconsin Rapids-Sunrise, where he served as the
club's second president. A Paul Harris Fellow, Dean has held numerous
positions in the clubs where he was a member, and is eager to work
closely with the clubs in District 6250 to strengthen the work and
mission of the clubs and to deepen the clubs' relationship with the
District and with Rotary International. Dean is a retired school
superintendent, and currently works part-time in the Department of
Education Leadership for a small private college in Madison. He serves
as an education consultant to school districts throughout the country,
along with volunteer work with several non-profit boards in the
Madison area.

John is a member of the Delavan-Darien Rotary Club. He served as a centennial club president from 2004-05 and again from January-June 2008. John has been the District 6270 Treasurer since 2005.

He is a native of Waukesha, WI, the older (by three minutes) of identical twins. His twin brother, Jeff, is a radiologist in the Delavan, WI area. John is a retired Colonel in the U.S.A.F., where he served as a pilot, staff officer and commander for 30 years. He is a graduate of the U.S.A.F. Academy and holds an M.A. from Webster University. He is also a graduate of the Air War College.

John is a manager at the Alder Companies, a Dean Foods Distributor. The Alder Companies distributes Dairy Products throughout the Midwest. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Delavan-Delavan Lakes area Chamber of Commerce and is Chairman of the City of Delavan Police and Fire Commission. John is an Elder at the Delavan Christian Reformed Church, where he also teaches the adult Sunday School Class. John and Janis have been married for 30 years. Janis is a former Air Force and Navy Nurse. They have three children: John Robert, 25, a graduate of Calvin College who lives and works in Grand Rapids, MI; Andrew (23), a 2010 U.S. Naval Academy Graduate undergoing Aviation Training and Anne Marie (19), a sophomore at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL.

Sarah Oliver joined the Rotary Club of Wilmette Harbor in 1997 and has served as Club President (2001-2002), Secretary, Community Service Chair, TRF Chair and Chair of the Board of the Wilmette Harbor Rotary Foundation.  Since 2009 she is again a member of that club foundation board.

At the district level, Sarah was Secretary in 2006-2007 and Chair for ABCs of Rotary in 2007.  Currently she is Treasurer for 2011-2012.  She recently completed three years, 2008-2011, as Assistant Governor for the Arlington Heights Sunrise, Highland Park-Highwood and Palatine clubs.  During those same years also, she served as District Trainer and was instrumental in the design, development and execution of Northern Illinois P.E.T.S. as well as the initiation of the first District 6440 Fall Seminar Day.

As a member of the International Fellowship of Rotarian Convention Goers, Sarah continually encourages local Rotarians to travel to RI Conventions and often staffs the Convention Goers booth at those Houses of Friendship.  To date she has enjoyed and benefited from the inspiration and fellowship of eleven Conventions on four continents. Husband Wally and she love to travel and to get together with local Rotarians while they are overseas.  At home they have hosted visiting Rotarians, inbound GSE team members, and Rotary Youth Exchange students.  When they are "up north" at the summer home of her family, Sarah is involved in service projects and fundraising activities with the Rotary Club of Boyne City, MI.

Wally and Sarah are Level Three Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation, and she is a Charter Member of the Paul Harris Society and a Major Donor to TRF.

With degrees in chemistry from Goucher College (A.B.) and Northwestern University (M.S.), Sarah retired from the laboratory in the 1970's to a career of volunteerism.  She was honored in 2004 as Wilmette Citizen of the Year for her extensive community service.  Local public service included the Wilmette Plan Commission, the Board of Trustees, and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, each of the two latter commitments for the statutory maximum time.  As a member of the League of Woman Voters of Wilmette for 35 years, she served in a number of leadership positions and continues to register voters and assist in community education relating to public issues. In the broader Chicago area, Sarah was, among other things, active in the Junior League of Chicago with member education and training, community service projects, and fundraising and has been involved in fundraising events with the Chicago Symphony Women's Association.

Sarah and Wally have been married since 1971 and have two daughters, Helen (Taylor Boas) and Susan, and a grandson, Julian Oliver Boas, who delights them all.

Born in Jacksonville, FL, graduated from the University of Florida.  Currently pastor of Elmhurst Presbyterian Church, Elmhurst, IL.  A pastor of the Presbyterian Church, USA for 29 years. 

First joined Rotary in 1984.   Member of four Rotary clubs, currently the Rotary Club of Elmhurst, recent past president and board member.  District Governor Nominee for 2011-12 in RI District 6450.

Extensive professional experience in pastoral ministry, conflict management, oversight of candidates for the ministry, fund raising management, and executive leadership.  Served as moderator of the Presbytery of Chicago in 2010, and is a three time commissioner to the General Assembly of the PCUSA. 

Extensive non profit board experience in fields as diverse as mental health, homeless shelters, community organizing, prison reform, and high school athletics.

Married to Martha Halsey-Lyda, a nurse practitioner in pediatric endocrinology.  Five grown sons, and a brown labrador retriever.

Rotary. Duane is the District Governor Nominee for Rotary District 6310 and its current membership committee chair and was an assistant governor from 2007-2010. He has been a session facilitator for Great Lakes PETS for the past three years and has facilitated membership and social media session for his district conference. Duane served as his club’s president during the 2003-04 year and is its current public image committee chair. 

Profession. Duane Reyhl is a certified public accountant with the Michigan firm of Andrews Hooper Pavlik PLC where he is the Director of Consulting.  He also has significant responsibilities in the audit and forensic accounting areas. Prior to AHP, was with a local California firm and was the technical director for the Peer Review Program of the California Society of CPAs.  Prior to that, Duane was the partner in charge of auditing, accounting, and quality control for an Oakland, California firm.

Volunteer Activities. He is a member of the Michigan Association of CPAs Peer Review Task Force; Accounting and Auditing Standards Task Force; and vice chair of the Accounting and Auditing Conference Planning Task Force. He is also a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, the Institute of Internal Auditors, and is the treasurer and board member of the St. Charles Community Schools Board of Education. 

Teaching. Duane currently writes the AICPA continuing professional education course, Peer Review – Are You Ready.  Duane is a frequent speaker on audit, accounting and peer review topics for various organizations. He has also been a discussion leader at two of the AICPA’s Peer Review Conferences. In addition, he has taught a section of the course, Financial Statements in the Courtroom, for the National Judicial College. In addition, he has written two courses for the California Society of CPAs: Audit Planning: A Practical Approach to Integrating the Standards and Non-Profits – Issues with Fraud, Risk Assessment, Internal Control, and Volunteers. 

Fun. His passions include his family, writing children’s stories, and playing the acoustic guitar.

Jim is a partner/agent of HIA – Hamburg/Pinckney Insurance located in Hamburg Township, Michigan. Established in June of 2009, the agency is a partnership agency with Hartland Insurance Agency located in Hartland, Michigan. In addition the leadership responsibilities, Jim is also an independent agent providing service to his clients as a trusted advisor for their business and personal insurance needs.

Jim was Director of Business Development at Cobb-Hall Insurance with responsibility for marketing and sales of business and personal insurance products.  He joined Cobb-Hall in 1996. Previously, Jim held a number of positions in Underwriting, Marketing and Management with national insurance carriers.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University in 1975.

Jim is a member of the National Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, having earned the Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designation in 2002.

He is an active member of the Howell and Brighton Chambers of Commerce and serves on the Board of Directors for the Pinckney, Lakeland, Hamburg & Hell Division of the Brighton Chamber. He has served as Chair for the Brighton Chamber Golf Classic as well as the Howell Education Foundation Golf Outing. He is currently the chair of the 2011 Hamburg Kiwanis Golf Tournament.

Jim is a past Director of the Brighton Rotary Club (1997-2003), as well as past President of the club (2001-02). He was the Governor’s Representative and Charter President of the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club (2004-05). He served as the Chair of the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Foundation (a 501c3 public charity)

Jim was Membership Chair (2005-06) and Assistant Governor (2007-2010)  for Rotary District 6380 which encompasses Washtenaw, Livingston, Oakland and Macomb counties in Michigan as well as Chatham-Kent  in Canada. . He has served as a facilitator for Rotary Club Visioning in District 6380 since 2007. Jim is serving as the District 6380 Membership Chair for 2011-2012.

Jim was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Brighton Rotary Club in 2002 and became a multiple award recipient when the Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club bestowed the award on him in 2008.He is also a member of the Rotary Foundation Bequest Society. Jim has served as a speaker at Rotary meetings throughout Southeast Michigan on issues involving the values of Rotary and Rotary Membership

Jim is married to Anne for 34 years and they have three sons: James V, Charles and Daniel

Joe Ludwig and his wife Suzanne Hagelberg reside in Swancreek Township in Fulton County, Ohio.  Joe is a member of the Rotary Club of Maumee, Ohio.  He retired from the Toledo-Lucas County Public Library system in December of 2009 after 28 years with the library, 19 as manager of the Maumee Branch Library.  During his years in Maumee he served as president of the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, Vice President of the Maumee Uptown Business Association and was an active member of various other organizations.  He served 10 years on the Board of Claire’s Day, an organization working to promote  literature and literacy in northwest Ohio.  He is currently President of the Board of the PRIZM Creative Community, an arts group in the Toledo area working to further the love of the arts. 
Joe is a 1967 graduate of St. Francis De Sales High School in Toledo, the University of Toledo, where he achieved a B.S. in business and library service, and Case Western Reserve University where he received a Masters degree in Library Science.
Joe was invited to join Maumee Rotary in 1997 and served as president of the club in 2005-2006.  He also served on the Maumee Rotary Service Foundation Board for 2 years.  During his tenure as president he created the “Soup Kitchen” project which continues to this day.  He is a Paul Harris Fellow.    He also serves as an advisor to the Greater Toledo Area Rotary Clubs Presidents’ Council.  He has been an assistant governor for five years.
Joe’s wife Suzanne is an administrative assistant with Bostleman Corporation, a commercial construction firm.

 

Deborah A. Esbenshade is Vice President and Controller for Modern Builders Supply. Debbie is a cum-laude graduate of Youngstown State University with a major in Management and minors in Accounting and Economics.

Debbie has been a member of the Rotary Club of Youngstown since March, 1994 and is a Paul Harris Fellow, Benefactor and Member of the Bequest Society.  After serving on all Avenues of Service, Debbie served as Youngstown Rotary’s first female president in its eighty-seven year history for the 2001-2002 Rotary year and received a “Distinguished Rotary Club President” award.   Youngstown was designated a “Distinguished Rotary Club” and won awards for new member inductions (19), community service and newsletter recognitions and Highest Net New Member Gain (12).  One of the highlights of her year was attending the International Convention in San Antonio, TX.

 Debbie has served as Co-Chair of the 1999 District Conference for PDG Jerry Haber,  Assistant Governor (2002-2003),  District Trainer for the 2003-2004 and as Membership Chair (2006-2007).

Debbie is a past Chairman of the Board of Easter Seals and currently serves as Treasurer. She is a Eucharistic Minister at St. Christine Church and serves on the Parish Finance Committee, Festival, Men’s and Women’s Renewal Choir, and Women’s Renewal Team.

Patricia J Meehan is the manager of Lawyers Abstract Co of Mercer County, Inc in Hermitage,
PA, a position she has held since May 2000. Patty was a banker in her former life with what is
now Huntington Bank formerly First Federal of Western PA when she was manager beginning in
1988, in Mercer, PA..
Patty graduated from Kennedy Catholic High School and Youngstown State University with a
BSBA in Accounting. She continued her education completing the Paralegal Certificate Program
at Duquesne University with honors. While in Mercer she was active in the Mercer Area
Chamber of Commerce, Business & Professional Women Club, and chaired the Mercer Victorian
Days. Now she focuses her time on Rotary and serves as Eucharistic Minister and Lector at St
Michael Parish in Greenville, PA.
Patty was asked to join the Rotary Club of Mercer in 1993, the first woman member of the Club.
She became its first woman President in 1996-97. The bank transferred her to Sharon area where
she became a member of the Rotary Club of Sharon and its President 2002-2003. Patty has been
a member of the District 7280 Finance Committee for several years, a member of the Paul Harris
Society, Assistant Governor since 2007. She was the District Conference chair in 2010.
She is married to Thomas Mong and they live in Greenville. They enjoy golfing, working on the
old farm house they live in and visiting with Tom’s 2 adult sons, Dan a Staff Sargent in the
Marine Corp and Matt an Airman in the Air Force and their families.

Ron has been the Executive Director of the Somerset County Chamber for the past 5 ½ years. Prior to that, he held a similar position for 6 years with the Laurel Highlands Chamber of Commerce in Mount Pleasant, PA. Ron spent nearly 20 years in the hospitality field in food management at Seven Springs Resort in Somerset County. He also was a paramedic for over 25 years, primarily as a volunteer. He now lives in Somerset. He has a daughter, Samantha, who lives in Columbus, Ohio, where she just recently graduated from Ohio State. She was a RYE outbound student to France in 2004-2005.

Ron was a member of the Mount Pleasant Rotary club for 6 years and then became a member of the Rotary Club of Somerset after his move to Somerset. He was President of the Somerset Club for 2009-2010 and AG in 2010-present. He has also been active with RYE, as well as, many other Rotary District events. On his recent selection as DGND, Ron states, “ Rotary has been the most amazing journey of my life and has had a profound effect on my life as well as my family. I only hope I can give something back as worthy, as I continue the journey.”

Professionally, Ron is active on a multitude of non-profit and business related organizations including Allegany College of Maryland Foundation- Somerset Campus, Salvation Army, Penn Highlands College Advisory, Power of 32 Regional Initiative, Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, Continental One Transportation Board, Chambers of Commerce Service Corporation, PA Association of Chamber Professionals, Southern Alleghenies Workforce Investment Board and others.

He is specifically proud of his role in facilitating Leadership Somerset County, which has helped nurture over 130 new community and business leaders for the county and region in the past 6 years. He is also a graduate of Leadership Westmoreland County.

In his spare time he enjoys bicycling, golf, wine, travel, cooking, an occasional cigar and spending quality time with Sandy.