President Dan Malinowski Installation Address

First, I would like to say Thanks:

To my wife of 30 years, Laura Baron Malinowski for supporting me, putting up with my varied life’s passions, not the least of which is this Club. As a note, our 15th wedding anniversary was my first day in the Rotary Club of Joliet. Our 30th will be celebrated during my year as President.
To my family, our children, Anna, Mary, Julia, Michael. I love them, love exploring life with them. They are not here today at the installation but that is because they are thankfully all gainfully employed.
To Bob Baron and his wife Lorraine who encouraged me to join Rotary 15 years ago, and for introducing me to the world of international Rotarians, not just Rotary International.
To the past and incoming Joliet Rotary Club Board members, you all have worked very hard to implement new ideas but also complete the good work started by previous Presidents and Boards.
To the past Joliet Rotary Club Presidents for your leadership, and guidance to me. So many of you have wished me well and promised your support. I will definitely lean on you all.
To District Governor Osei David Andrews-Hutchinson, thank you for coming here today, for engaging in our club, meeting with me at District events and in Seoul. Here is something for you – Zikomo, which is what the people of Malawi say to show gratitude.

You are all unique people in the overall population. You have made a choice to join a club that is more than a social club, it is a club where the members serve others. That is not a common decision in today's world. But you decided that this is the place to be for you. THANKS to you for making that decision.

We are doing the right thing here in our Club; to decide to serve others is not typically the popular decision for many people in the world these days. But the children in Malawi and the Dominican Republic are very happy that you decided to make the decision that you did. That's why it is easy to be president of a Club with members like you. So thank you!

The "last mile" challenges are the most difficult part of any project. In Joliet we supported many last mile efforts since the 1980s from the YMCA project to the recent projects for the Habitat for Humanity and Our Lady of Angels. There are places in the world and locally that continue to need our help. We at Rotary International are close to solving a problem like Polio, but now it's a matter of overcoming faulty decisions that tend to impede our volunteers access to all areas of Afghanistan to deliver vaccines.

Back in the 1980’s in India there were challenging barriers due to outmoded medical beliefs that slowed down the resolution of serious health problems, like the baby with diarrhea who does not get rehydration salt liquids because the mom is worried about putting more liquid into a "leaky bucket". That is why it is the people, the members of Rotary that matter. We are the ones that can break through the social barriers to implement the technical solutions.

My favorite thing at the Rotary International Convention was meeting people. One of big goals this year is to get assistance from one of the international clubs to help us with a local project. We started asking for potential partners while in Seoul. We believe this will provide excitement, and a great service to another local organization that can be achieved with our help.

It is endearing to have had so many Rotarians sincerely wish me the best and tell me how wonderful of a job I will do as president. I am always grateful, but I also have to say that I suspect that their smile is partially because they know that they are happy that they are not president, like whoo, thank God, its him and not me. Seriously, I belive that everyone in this room deserves so much credit for making a commitment to Rotary and this Joliet Club. You made the choice to serve - over all the distractions, temptations, and responsibilities in your lives.

Thank you...Tsalani Bwino (means stay well in Malawi)!