Speaker for November 3 - District Governor Wade Nomura

Our Club was very fortunate to have District Governor Wade Nomura visit with us and give an inspirational presentation.  DG Nomura was originally introduced to Rotary by his wife, Roxanne Nomura, who was working with a group of people to start a new club.  Approximately nine years ago, after a bit of arm twisting, DG Nomura agreed to be a charter member of the Rotary Club of Carpinteria Morning.  DG Nomura was hesitant at first only because he was already involved with eight other organizations.  Talk about a busy man!

For his first year and a half in Rotary, DG Nomura kept a low profile, but all that changed when he became involved with a water project in Mexico.  At the last minute, the Club President was not able to go on the trip for this project.  DG Nomura volunteered to take his place.  Never having been out of the country, this was quite an adventure for him. 

Upon arriving in Mexico, he was given the task of negotiating with the government for approvals and finding a local Rotary Club to partner with.  Over the next year and a half, the necessary structures were built that brought clean water to a community of approximately 124 people.  When visiting at the completion of the project, the Sheriff thanked DG Nomura by saying, “Thank you for bringing us water, for bringing us life.”  DG Nomura says that he realized at that moment the importance of what his Club had accomplished and how many people they had helped.  For him, that was his first true Rotary Moment.

DG Nomura had his second Rotary Moment during a trip to India for National Immunization Day.  DG Nomura is a polio survivor.  He recalls being quarantined in a hospital when he was four years old and having the doctors do a spinal tap on him every day.  Fortunately, he eventually made a full recovery.  DG Nomura did not think much about polio for much of his adult life until he became a Rotarian.  He recalls how surprised he was to learn that polio still exists.  DG Nomura was understandably inspired to participate in the NID.  He proudly announced that his group immunized 916,000 children under the age of six in four days.

DG Nomura feels that there are three overall gifts that Rotary provides.  Rotary gives members the opportunity to change lives, the opportunity to have Rotary Moments, and the opportunity to share Rotary with others. 

DG Nomura has held the positions of Club President, District Vocational Service Director, District Club Service Director, Mid Terms Chair, and Education and Training Deputy Director.  He is also a PRLS and Master PRLS instructor. 

Thank you DG Nomura for your service and dedication to Rotary and our District.