Did you know that, in 2018, North Carolina produced more sweet potatoes than any other state in the country? We ranked seventh for tomatoes and cantaloupes, fifth for cucumbers and fourth for strawberries. Add corn, soybeans and other agricultural products integral to our lives and that’s a lot of fruit and vegetables grown in our own backyard that end up on our tables.

And 85% of that is picked by hand, meaning North Carolina has one of the largest farmworker populations in the nation. Yet despite the absolutely vital role farmworkers play in our society, agricultural work remains one of the most dangerous jobs with the fewest benefits. That’s where Vecinos comes in.

A wise person told me once to always leave a place better than you found it. That will be hard to do when it comes to Rotary District 7670. We have been fortunate to have so many distinguished and committed leaders guiding us over the years, and I would be remiss if I didn't begin my new year by saying "thank you" to each of our past district governors who have served. They have each given unselfishly of themselves (and their families) to undertake a role that I am honored to now have.

The above topic is how I want to describe our “All Clubs District Conference” this year. Where 210 people from our District 7670 gathered to celebrate our accomplishments in the year of Inspiration. There were 36 clubs represented and 54 new people who had never attended a District Conference before gathered with us in Greenville, SC, this past weekend. This All Clubs District Conference will go into the records as one of the best in the history of our District. Not only did we have an incredible line of speakers but also had fun speakers and treated ourselves to great dancers on Saturday night. In fact, a few of our members went onto the floor to demonstrate their dancing acumen.

Rotary provides education, immunizations, birth kits, and mobile health clinics. Women are taught how to prevent mother-to-infant HIV transmission, how to breast-feed, and to protect themselves and their children from disease.

Rotarians channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity. Vocational Service is one of the five.