District Governor Visit
Posted by Ruth Ann Angus
Luz Maria Ortiz-Smith was born and raised in Celaya, Mexico. She
attended Ohio State University and now works at her husband's insurance
agency as business administrator.
Luz Maria started in Rotary in 1992 as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Celaya Nat-Tha-Hi, an all female club. Soon the new club sought a partnership with Santa Barbara Sunrise to fund a grant for cataract surgeries in Celaya. Luz Maria and E. Russell Smith met during the project and have now been married for 14 years. Luz Maria and E. Russell are Rotary Benefactors, Bequest Society Members and Major Donors.
Luz Maria started in Rotary in 1992 as a charter member of the Rotary Club of Celaya Nat-Tha-Hi, an all female club. Soon the new club sought a partnership with Santa Barbara Sunrise to fund a grant for cataract surgeries in Celaya. Luz Maria and E. Russell Smith met during the project and have now been married for 14 years. Luz Maria and E. Russell are Rotary Benefactors, Bequest Society Members and Major Donors.
Luz Maria said she didn't learn English until she was in her 30s, so
she still has a distinct accent. She said, and we would all agree, that
it is difficult to learn another language when you are older. She said
English is a "crazy" language, but she speaks it beautifully and has
obviously worked very hard to do so.
Luz Maria has represented our district as a GSE team leader, GSE chair, Group 8 Representative, Assistant Governor and District Community Avenue of Service Director. She has been instrumental in the development of a sister district with District 4160 in Mexico. She has also been active in sending wheelchairs around the world.
Luz Maria made a special presentation to Judy Salamacha as 2008-2009 Group 11 Representative. She also recognized Past District Governor Walt Milburn, one of our club's two Past District Governors, and Chungsam Doh, in Korea, to help us navigate the many changes of Rotary's International Foundation.
Luz Maria emphasized that Rotary is an action verb indicating change. One action is eliminating polio. Another is our duty to pave the road for those who come behind us. The future of Rotary needs us to become stronger and better.
Rotarians should focus on achieving peace in the world. The way we do that is to lay the foundation in every worldwide project that we participate in. When we share Rotary with our new members, we also lay the foundation for peace.
Rotarians can create peaceful conditions in our communities in our families and between countries and we must meet the challenges of each generation.
Last year, in our district alone, 10,000 Paul Harris Fellows were created. Our club provides a per capita average of $152 to The Rotary Foundation every year. The generosity of our club is truly remarkable. Because of world conditions, it is important to increase our contribution by 10 percent per person.
Luz Maria thanked all of us for coming to meet her, and we were all charmed by her passion and sincerity.
Luz Maria has represented our district as a GSE team leader, GSE chair, Group 8 Representative, Assistant Governor and District Community Avenue of Service Director. She has been instrumental in the development of a sister district with District 4160 in Mexico. She has also been active in sending wheelchairs around the world.
Luz Maria made a special presentation to Judy Salamacha as 2008-2009 Group 11 Representative. She also recognized Past District Governor Walt Milburn, one of our club's two Past District Governors, and Chungsam Doh, in Korea, to help us navigate the many changes of Rotary's International Foundation.
Luz Maria emphasized that Rotary is an action verb indicating change. One action is eliminating polio. Another is our duty to pave the road for those who come behind us. The future of Rotary needs us to become stronger and better.
Rotarians should focus on achieving peace in the world. The way we do that is to lay the foundation in every worldwide project that we participate in. When we share Rotary with our new members, we also lay the foundation for peace.
Rotarians can create peaceful conditions in our communities in our families and between countries and we must meet the challenges of each generation.
Last year, in our district alone, 10,000 Paul Harris Fellows were created. Our club provides a per capita average of $152 to The Rotary Foundation every year. The generosity of our club is truly remarkable. Because of world conditions, it is important to increase our contribution by 10 percent per person.
Luz Maria thanked all of us for coming to meet her, and we were all charmed by her passion and sincerity.