DISTRICT GOVERNOR - 2011 - 2012
MICHAEL & SHELLY DUBEN
“Welcome to the Wild Year of Rotary”
It should be no surprise to any of you that I, along with my wife Shelly and our children, Marcus and Justine are all very excited about the coming year. From the moment that I was first exposed to Rotary, I knew that it would forever play an important part of my life and the lives of my family.
In many ways it was a foregone conclusion that I would join Rotary once I was selected as a member of the Group Study Exchange Team to South Africa in 1995. My six-week experience in the Johannesburg area is something that I will not soon forget. In a country that was giddy with anticipation in the Post-Apartheid era, I received a first-hand crash course on South Africa, its people, its history and its customs. The opportunity to be a part of all this while in the care and company of Rotarians was especially special. I knew almost immediately that I would do my absolutely best to “pay back” Rotary for extending me the opportunity and privilege of being part of such a fantastic life altering program.
This commitment to “payback” Rotary is what motivated me to become a Rotarian and to later
serve my Club, the Rotary Club of Windsor-St. Clair, as its Centennial President. It was this reason, together with all of the subsequent defining moments that I have since experienced courtesy of Rotary, which led me to put my name forward as a potential District Governor candidate. There is however, a glaring inherent flaw to this logic…every time that I attempt to “payback” Rotary I seem to get rewarded in return in ways that I could never have imagined. I know that this year as your District Governor will be no different. That is the magic of Rotary service!
By now you should know that our theme for next year is “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity”. It is a very powerful and somewhat spiritual theme which was developed by the 2011-12 Rotary International President, Kalyan Banerjee from the Rotary Club of Gujarat, India. President Banerjee has also asked all Rotarians to focus on Family, Continuity and Change this year. Our District goals will align with President Banerjee’s as we emphasize membership growth, increased conference participation, enhanced Rotary Foundation giving and hands–on service projects. You will hear more about each of these District goals in the coming months.
Rotary International and District 6400 exists for one reason and one reason only… that reason is Rotary Clubs. If it were not for Rotary Clubs we simply would not be an organization at all. With that in mind, I pledge that all members of District Leadership including myself will be here to support each and every Club this year as we all “Reach Within to Embrace Humanity” together. I am looking forward to meeting many of you this year as I visit your Clubs on my official visits or as I attend your Club events and projects.
Humbly Yours,
Michael Duben
Rotary 6400 Governor 2011-12
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A member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-St. Clair since 1996, Michael served as Centennial President. He has served his Club in many capacities including Director, Program Chair, TV Auction Chair and Fines Master. He was first exposed to Rotary as a member of the Group Study Exchange team to South Africa in 1995. Michael later became District 6400 GSE Chair. Michael also continues to serve the District as a facilitator on the Club Visioning Team. Shelly is also a past president of the Rotary Club of Windsor-St. Clair.
Michael and Shelly, founded Rotarians Enhancing Learning of African Youth (R.E.L.A.Y.), an educational project that has enhanced the lives of thousands of children in Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia and Mozambique. Mike and Shelly also participated in a Rotaplast mission to Venezuela in 2006 and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2009 to help raise funds to purchase mosquito nets for women and children in Tanzania.
Both Mike and Shelly are multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors, and Bequest Society members, and have been recognized as Rotarians of the Year, COG recipients and TRF District Service Award recipients.
Born in Montreal, Michael is an attorney and is the VP of Customer Relations for Enwin Utilities in Windsor. A graduate of Leadership Detroit and a member of the Advisory Committee for Leadership Windsor Essex, Michael's community involvement has extended to various boards and committees. Shelly grew up in Northern Ontario and works as a teacher consultant with the public school board in Windsor.
Michael and Shelly are proud parents of Marcus (12) and Justine (18), who is currently a Youth Exchange student to Belgium.
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