Rotary’s New District Governor Aims for Growth and Peace

Bret Hrbek, a seasoned member of the Rotary Club in Front Royal, has recently been elected as the District Governor for Rotary’s District 7570. This area stretches from Winchester to the West Virginia line, covering the 81 corridor with 75 clubs and nearly 3,000 Rotarians. Taking office on July 1st, Brett will lead the district with a focus on expanding membership and enhancing the club’s impact on both local and global scales.

Hrbek, who previously served as the Front Royal Rotary Club president, is now becoming more prominent. “My job as district governor is to ensure the infrastructure is established and working well for all the clubs,” he explained. This involves supporting and training clubs, ensuring their activities thrive, and facilitating collaboration.

With over 40,000 clubs and 1.4 million members worldwide, Rotary International is committed to service above self. The organization’s initiatives range from ending polio to advocating for peace, providing clean water, and supporting education. However, Hrbek emphasizes that most of Rotary’s impactful community service happens at the club level. “We want other people to know what we’re doing so they’ll come and join us,” he said, highlighting the importance of visibility for recruiting new members.

Hrbek’s vision includes making Rotary more accessible and appealing to diverse communities. “We have clubs that meet in the evening, in the morning, at lunchtime. We have satellite clubs,” he shared. This flexibility accommodates various schedules and demographics, from teachers to working professionals. Reducing membership costs is also a priority to attract passionate individuals eager to serve their communities.

One of Hrbek’s key initiatives is promoting peace and conflict resolution. He believes that many of Rotary’s focus areas, such as clean water and economic development, contribute to global peace. Herbeck advocates for starting peace at a local level, encouraging respectful interactions and understanding within communities. He also promotes the installation of peace poles in public spaces as symbols of Rotary’s commitment to peace.

Hrbek also aims to address mental health, or as he prefers to call it, mental fitness. He stresses the importance of supporting mental well-being, particularly among men and boys, who are facing increasing rates of mental health issues and suicide. “We need more men to be mentors,” he said, highlighting the role of Rotarians in providing guidance and support to younger generations.

Rotary’s youth programs, such as EarlyAct for elementary students and Interact for middle and high schoolers, play a crucial role in fostering leadership and service values. Hrbek praised Michael Williams, a dedicated teacher at E. Wilson Elementary School in Front Royal and Rotarian, for his work mentoring young students. These programs aim to instill a sense of service and community involvement from an early age.

Hrbek is optimistic about Rotary’s future and impact. He believes growing membership and enhancing engagement are vital for the organization’s continued success. “Rotary Club equals happiness,” he said, summarizing the sense of purpose, sacrifice, and enjoyment of being part of this global service organization.

For more information about joining Rotary or learning about its initiatives, visit the Rotary District 7570 website. Hrbek and other Rotarians are always eager to welcome new members who share their passion for service and community.

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