Every year, the District Governor makes the rounds to visit Rotary clubs across the district, and when Drew Markham came to the Rotary Club of Barrie, he brought a message worth hearing. Introduced by Jim Williams, who traced Drew’s Rotary journey from joining the Huntsville club in 2014 to helping start a satellite club, to becoming a charter member of another club while living abroad, Drew arrived at the podium with the kind of Rotary resume that speaks for itself.
Drew shared this year’s Rotary International theme, “Create Lasting Impact,” and challenged the Club to approach new ideas with curiosity rather than judgment. He touched on district finances, membership trends, and the growing focus on forming new types of clubs, including satellite, companion, and cause-based models, reflecting how Rotary is evolving to meet people where they are. Beyond the numbers, Drew has stayed active in dentistry through the Health Outreach program, treating Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic, a reminder that service is always personal.
He closed with a simple but resonant reminder: there is a place in Rotary for everyone, especially those with a little extra time and energy to give. Arlette Utton thanked Drew on behalf of the Club.