Happy and Successful
New Year!
Dear Rotarians of
District 1990
At the beginning of
each new year, I always take time to reflect on what should be achieved during
the coming twelve months. These reflections are not detailed action plans, but
rather guiding ideas that help me focus my energy on what truly matters. Outside
of my family, Rotary naturally holds a central place in these
priorities.
As you know, young
people are a particularly important focus for me within Rotary. The reasons
are evident and shared by all of us: they represent our future, both within
Rotary and in society at large. For this reason, I would like to highlight a
few key Rotary activities involving young people that deserve our special
attention in the year ahead.
First, VISITE,
also known as the Moléson Project, must now be brought to completion. We
have identified 18 apprentices and raised CHF 33,000, but the project still
needs to be finalized. By investing in young people in Switzerland—by helping
them discover our country and broadening their perspectives—we provide them
with experiences that can positively influence their future paths.
Second, Rotary
Youth Exchange remains one of Rotary’s flagship programs. Few initiatives
offer young people as much impact as a one-year exchange abroad: learning a new
language, developing independence, and discovering a different culture. It is
truly a life-changing experience. I encourage you to support this program
actively.
Third, Rotaractors
are Rotarians. This is a simple statement, yet one we sometimes forget. In
recent years, our District has unfortunately seen the closure of several
Rotaract clubs. Today, we are working to reverse this trend by creating four
new Rotaract clubs in Lausanne, Neuchâtel, Biel, and Valais. The role of
the partner Rotary clubs in founding and supporting these new clubs is
essential. Your engagement here is not optional—it is critical to success.
As we enter this new
year, I count on your commitment, your energy, and your belief in Rotary’s
ability to make a lasting difference—especially for young people.
With these thoughts, I
wish you all a happy, healthy, and successful Rotary year 2026.
Jouni K. Heinonen
DG 2025-2026
