ELIZABETHTOWN — The Elizabethtown Rotary Club received a visit from newly installed District Gov. David Baggett.

President Renee Horton introduced Baggett to those gathered and noted that Baggett is “15 years into his second career as a physician assistant after serving 26 years in the United States Army as a field artillery officer. Horton also noted that his wife Magda is a past Rotary district governor.

According to Baggett’s biography on the Rotary District 7730 website, “He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy, West Point, N.Y.; holds a master’s degree from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; and is a graduate of the Physician’s Assistant program of Methodist University, Fayetteville, where he is the campus physician assistant.” Baggett joined Rotary in 1985 while on active duty in the U.S. Army and between torus of duty overseas, he has been active in the Fayetteville Rotary Club for 23 years.

“There are a whole lot of things possible here in Elizabethtown. I’m glad we were able to talk about that in advance,” said Baggett. He had met with the club’s board prior to the general membership meeting and learned more about the club and its programs.

Baggett told those gathered that the district governor is not the important one, but that the club members are the important ones.

“It’s less about me and more about you,” said Baggett.

He also spoke about newly installed Rotary International President K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran. Baggett told the group that one of the duties of the newly installed RI president is to create a theme for the year and that Ravindran, who is from Sri Lanka, has chosen the theme “Be a Gift to the World.”

“This plays right into what Rotarians do,” said Baggett.

Baggett also touched briefly on goals. He said that folks set personal goals, folks set professional goals, and folks set long-term goals and they set health-related goals.

“Long-term health comes with friendship and giving back to the community,” said Baggett.

He added that Rotarians come to meeting to support each other in shared goals and make a better a community.

Baggett also spoke about the Rotary Foundation and how it is funded through the philanthropy of fellow Rotarians. He challenged the club that if the group would give $1,000 this year, Baggett said a grant of $500 will be made available with no match.

Baggett also said he had $2,000 at the district level to participate in a health day in Ghana.

“They were looking for a lot of money,” said Baggett of the project.

Baggett explained that health day would consist of things like vaccinations, mosquito nets, and such. He said they had corporate sponsorship from Coca Cola Africa. Baggett said to make it possible for Rotary District 7730 to participate, the district was placed into a zone with other districts. Together, the clubs achieved raising $60,000 which Rotary International matched bringing the total to $120,000, said Baggett.

Baggett said, “Being a Rotarian gives me access to people like me involved in a worldwide endeavor.”

Horton present Baggett with a check from the club in the amount of $150 as a gift to the Rotary Foundation.

Erin Smith can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.

Erin Smith|Bladen Journal Elizabethtown Rotary Club President Renee Horton presents Rotary District Governor David Baggett with a gift of $150 for the Rotary Foundation from the club. Baggett was visiting the club on Wednesday and spoke to the group about the Rotary Foundation as well as introducing himself to the membership.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_RotaryGift.jpgErin Smith|Bladen Journal Elizabethtown Rotary Club President Renee Horton presents Rotary District Governor David Baggett with a gift of $150 for the Rotary Foundation from the club. Baggett was visiting the club on Wednesday and spoke to the group about the Rotary Foundation as well as introducing himself to the membership.

Erin Smith|Bladen Journal Rotary District Governor David Baggett was visiting the Elizabethtown Rotary Club on Wednesday and spoke to the group about the Rotary Foundation as well as introducing himself to the membership.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_Rotary12.jpgErin Smith|Bladen Journal Rotary District Governor David Baggett was visiting the Elizabethtown Rotary Club on Wednesday and spoke to the group about the Rotary Foundation as well as introducing himself to the membership.

Erin Smith|Bladen Journal Rotary District Governor David Baggett was visiting the Elizabethtown Rotary Club on Wednesday and spoke to the group about the Rotary Foundation as well as introducing himself to the membership.
https://www.bladenjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_Rotary21.jpgErin Smith|Bladen Journal Rotary District Governor David Baggett was visiting the Elizabethtown Rotary Club on Wednesday and spoke to the group about the Rotary Foundation as well as introducing himself to the membership.

By Erin Smith

erinsmith@civitasmedia.com