Friendship: In an increasingly complex world, Rotary provides one of the most basic human needs: the need for friendship and fellowship. It is one of two reasons why Rotary began in 1905.
Business Development: The second original reason for Rotary’s beginning is business development. Everyone needs to network. Rotary consists of a cross section of every business community. Its members come from all walks of life. Rotarians help each other and collectively help others.
Personal Growth and Development: Membership in Rotary continues one’s growth and education in human relations and personal development.
Leadership Development: Rotary is an organization of leaders and successful people. Serving in Rotary positions is like a college education. Leadership: – learning how to motivate, influence and lead leaders.
Citizenship in the Community: Membership in a Rotary club makes one a better community citizen. The average Rotary club consists of the most active citizens of any community.
Continuing Education: Each week at Rotary there is a program designed to keep one informed about what is going on in the community, nation, and world. Each meeting provides an opportunity to listen to different speakers and a variety of timely topics.
Fun: Rotary is fun, a lot of fun. Each meeting is fun. The club projects are fun. Social activities are fun. Serving others is fun.
Public Speaking Skills: Many individuals who joined Rotary were afraid to speak in public. Rotary develops confidence and skill in public communication and the opportunity to practice and perfect these skills.
Citizenship in the World: Every Rotarian wears a pin that says “Rotary International.” There are few places on the globe that do not have a Rotary club. Every Rotarian is welcome – even encouraged – to attend any of the 33,000 clubs in over 200 nations and geographical regions. This means instant friends in both one’s own community and in the world community.
Assistance when Traveling: Because there are Rotary clubs everywhere, many a Rotarian in need of a doctor, lawyer, hotel, dentist, advice, etc., while traveling has found assistance through Rotary.
Entertainment: Every Rotary club and district has parties and activities that provide diversion in one’s business life. Rotary holds conferences, conventions, assemblies, and institutes that provide entertainment in addition to Rotary information, education, and service.
The Development of Social Skills: Every week and at various events and functions, Rotary develops one’s personality, social skills and people skills. Rotary is for people who like people.
Family Programs: Rotary provides one of the world’s largest youth exchange programs; high school and college clubs for future Rotarians; opportunities for spouse involvement; and a host of activities designed to help family members in growth and the development of family values.
Vocational Skills: Every Rotarian is expected to take part in the growth and development of his or her own profession or vocation; to serve on committees and to teach youth about one’s job or vocation. Rotary helps to make one a better doctor, lawyer, teacher, etc.
The Development of Ethics: Rotarians practice the 4-Way Test that governs one’s ethical standards. Rotarians are expected to be ethical in business and person relationships.
Cultural Awareness: Around the world, practically every religion, country, culture, race, creed, political persuasion, language, color, and ethnic identity is found in Rotary. It is a cross section of the world’s most prominent citizens from every background. Rotarians become aware of their cultures and learn to love and work with people everywhere. They become better citizens of their countries in the process.
Prestige: Rotary members are prominent people: leaders of business, the professions, art, government, sports, military, religion, and all disciplines. Rotary is the oldest and most prestigious service club in the world. Its ranks include executives, managers, professionals – people who make decisions and influence policy.
Nice People: Rotarians above all are nice people – the nicest people on the face of the earth. They are important people who follow the policy of “it is nice to be important but it is more important to be nice.”
The Absence of an” Official Creed”: Rotary has no secret handshake, no secret policy, no official creed, no secret meetings or rituals. It is an open society of men and women who simply believe in helping others.
The Opportunity to Serve: Rotary is a service club. Its product is serving. Rotarians provide community service to both local and international communities. This is perhaps the best reason for becoming a Rotarian: the chance to do something for somebody else and to sense the self-fulfillment that comes in the process and return of that satisfaction to one’s own life. It is richly rewarding.
Welcome to Rotary District 6200
Service Above Self across Louisiana
Our District 6200 covers the region of South Louisiana with service above self. Come join one of the many clubs in our district and learn what we think, say and do as Rotarians.
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About District 6200
At the time that the Rotary Club of Lake Charles was chartered in 1916, the new club was placed in Rotary District 12. The district governor was W. H. Richardson of Austin, Texas.
When the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge came into existence in 1918, the two clubs (Lake Charles and Baton Rouge) were in Rotary District 20. The district governor was Samuel Mason of Shreveport, Louisiana.
The following year the young south Louisiana clubs were incorporated into District 14 until 1922, at which time they became part of District 17. In 1937 they were included in District 139.
Joel L. Fletcher of Lafayette was the last governor of District 139 in 1948. The following year the clubs became part of District 202 until 1957 when the clubs were included in District 619. In 1958 the territory became District 620. In 1991 the district number was revised to its current designation, District 6200.
The boundary description of District 6200 in Louisiana is as follows: That portion south of the northern boundaries of the parishes of Beauregard, Allen, Evangeline, St. Landry, Pointe Coupee, West Feliciana, East Feliciana, and west of the western boundaries of the parishes of St. Helena, the Tickfaw River in Livingston, St. John The Baptist, St. Charles and Jefferson, but not including Grand Isle in Jefferson Parish. Inclusive parishes are: Acadia, Allen, Ascension, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grand Isle in Jefferson, Iberia, Iberville, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, Lafourche, Livingston west of the Tickfaw River, Pointe Coupee, Si. James, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Vermilion, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.
District 6200 Governor
Ken joined the Rotary Club of East Ascension in 2004 and immediately felt a sense of belonging with so many like-minded individuals. Becoming active right away, he served as Sgt. At Arms in his first full year of membership and, later, was selected as Rotarian of the Year in 2008. That same year he was asked to become the Club’s VP which put him in line to become Club President in 2010. Ken was honored to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from his club in 2015.
With District 6200, Ken served as an Assistant District Governor from 2012-2015 and has served on the District Friendship Exchange Committee as Co-Chair and as a member of the District Nominating Committee. Ken and Judy have attended every District Conference, except one, since 2005 and ten Rotary International Conventions. They look forward to attending many more.
Ken and Judy have been married for forty-one years and have five children and eight grandchildren. Ken and Judy are avid supporters of The Rotary Foundation and its programs and are Major Donors. Ken is also a member of the Paul Harris Society and Polio Plus Society.
Contact District Governor
Ken Firmin
Rotary Areas of Focus
The needs spanning Rotary's seven areas of focus are vast, ranging from lack of access to clean water to the need for immunization that prevent deadly diseases.
Learn more in the Rotary's Areas of Focus publication
Rotary clubs serve communities around the world, each with unique concerns and needs. Rotarians have continually adapted and improved the way they respond to those needs, taking on a broad range of service projects. The most successful and sustainable Rotary service tends to fall within one of the following seven areas:
Promoting Peace
Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts.
We are tackling environmental issues the way they always do: coming up with projects, using their connections to change policy and planning for the future.
Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for more than 30 years. Our goal of ridding the world of this disease is closer than ever.
As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, we've reduced polio cases by 99.9 percent since our first project to vaccinate children in the Philippines in 1979.
We've helped immunize more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries. So far, Rotary has contributed more than $1.8 billion toward eradicating the disease worldwide.
The Rotary Brand Center now has "Create Your Own" templates for club specific "People of Action" print ads and Facebook Posts. You can choose from several headlines and upload your club's photo of Rotarians in action. Find these new templates under the "Materials" and "Create Your Own" menu links at the Brand Center. These new tools add to the previously available templates for club logos, club brochure and youth program promo cards. RI's marketing team promises more "People of Action" templates are coming soon, including for Facebook Page covers.
