District Governor’s Message
Welcome to a New Rotary Year — Let’s Unite for Good!
By: Emma Bodwell, Bridgton-Lake Region RC
Dear Rotarians and friends,As I begin my year as District Governor, I want to say what an honor it is to serve District 7780.
A bit about me: I’m a proud member of the Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club since 1998. Over the years, I’ve been deeply involved as Club Treasurer, Club International Chair, and a two-time Club President. Since 2017, I have also served as District International Service Committee Chair (DISC). That role opened my eyes to the international reach of Rotary.
I’ve been fortunate to travel several times to the Dominican Republic on a Rotary/Interact project, and most recently to Colombia. I have seen firsthand the power of Rotary to bring positive change locally and globally.
Professionally, I have been a Mortgage Loan Officer since 1997, and I have served on several Boards of Realtors. I am currently licensed in seven states. My husband Peter is a retired Executive Chef, and our daughter Zoe is currently living in California.
This year’s Rotary International message is Unite for Good, a theme I absolutely love because I am a huge advocate for collaboration! Together, we can:
- Strengthen collaboration among clubs
- Grow and engage our membership
- Elevate Rotary’s visibility and public image
- Celebrate club successes and highlight inspiring partnerships
A perfect example of collaboration: The Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club agreed to be the International Sponsor for an Aquaponics global grant project in Colombia. It brought clubs together across districts and countries, showing how impactful we can be when we Unite for Good. The club’s $4,000 investment grew to a total of $63,000 in just a few weeks, financing the installation of an aquaponics system at a home for girls in Medellín, Colombia, which I had the pleasure of visiting this past January.
How cool is that? First, the sustainability for this home is incredible. Second, it is an excellent example of why your donations to The Rotary Foundation are vital. Third, and most important, it proves that by collaborating, we can do more! It’s time to get out of our club silos — and even our district silos. Let’s expand our horizons and open our minds and hearts to collaborating more, and with more people.
What’s in store for this Rotary Year?
Unite for Good Engagement Tracker
I’m excited to introduce our Engagement Tracker, which encourages clubs to stretch their impact through 10 high-value actions — from launching youth initiatives to developing new community collaborations and growing membership. These achievements will be recognized throughout the year with a spirit of friendly celebration, not competition. The tracker is designed to spark creativity, teamwork, and pride in Rotary service.
District Governor Initiatives
- International Project Fair Scholarship — Funding to support a newer Rotarian (5 years or less) to attend a Rotary Project Fair outside the U.S.
- New Member District Grant Seed Funding — For clubs empowering a new member (joined in last 24 months) to lead a small service project using a District Grant.
- New Member Global Grant Seed Funding — For clubs launching a Global Grant spearheaded by a new member (joined in last 24 months).
Full details of these initiatives, along with guidelines for the Engagement Tracker, will be sent directly to all club presidents this week. I will also share these resources during my club visits so you can ask questions and explore ideas together.
I truly believe that when we Unite for Good, we can make this one of our most inspiring years yet. Thank you for all you do for Rotary, and I can’t wait to see the incredible projects and partnerships that emerge.
My journey to being your DG is not about me — it is about us. My priority is to empower others, embrace diversity, and work collaboratively toward shared goals, ultimately demonstrating our value of Service Above Self.
Please reach out to me anytime with your ideas, questions, or suggestions. I am here to support you!
You can reach out to me anytime via email, text, or phone call — I would love to hear from you!
Yours in Rotary Service,
Emma Bodwell
District Governor 2025–2026
Rotary District 7780
Bridgton-Lake Region Rotary Club
Mobile/WhatsApp: 207-595-1134