The sunshine streaming through the windows of the Marriott Hotel in Syracuse, NY, dancing in harmonious beauty with the crystal chandelier, was merely a reflection of the light emanating from within the inspired and inspiring Rotary leaders gathered in the room for the final session of PETS.

Frederic (Nick) Norton, PDG D7090, delighted and moved the overflow crowd with his keynote address, "The Empty Chair."

As PDG Nick said, "There is a ripple effect to being a Rotarian. What you do can help more than those you seek to serve. Nothing can change you more than Rotary. There's a moral imperative to share what we have". As incoming Presidents, you must help your members leave their chairs."

A common theme and belief ran through the final wrapup thoughts from each of the four incoming DG's. Herb: "We need you to do the job we know you can do. Make a meaningful difference." Bob: "Follow the A E I O U rule: be awesome, enthusiastic, inspiring, outstanding, and understanding of District and World needs." Jim: "Your faith, enthusaism, and courage are an inspiration. I learned more than I imparted." Dick: "Rotary bridges the gaps of humanitarian needs and fellowship. Use the passion that comes from the heart, which improves the quality of life."

As we left the hotel on this bright sunny day in Upstate New York to continue Following the Rotary Dream under our current leaders, we felt secure in the knowledge that our incoming group of leaders will guide us with vision and foresight into the new millennium.

To PP and Paul Harris fellow, Bob Burrows, "I felt your presence today, Dad, as your light shown down from your cloud in heaven. Thanks to you and Mom for giving me life." And thank you, God, for Rotarian colleagues and leaders worldwide. - Marlene B. Brown

"Oh Thou who art the Author of our being and of our ever questing spirits, Thou who dost in diverse ways find ways to bless us in our various traditions of faith. Out of diverse colors and shapes and ages and sexes and sizes and skills and cultures and finances, we pause to rightly give Thee thanks for a fine experience of learning, of celebrating, of dining, of renewing old friendships and starting new ones in the worldwide amazing Rotary family.

What do we distill from all of this, to carry forward into these crucial nine months before the millennium descends upon us? We affirm afresh with passion and vigor that we Rotarians care; we are members of families who care, students of God's creation who care; people who pass on a better world to those who follow us.

Saturated with ideas and new paradigms, we now travel back into an exciting, sometimes bruising, sometimes unpredictable daily round, knowing that what each of us does counts: planting, nurturing oasies of hope and peace and well being.

Go with us and Guide us, God along the way, as we live out these lovely Rotary ideas with hearts, hands, and souls in the land of Districts 7120, 50, 70, and 90, where all the women are strong, the men are handsome, and all the children are above average! God bless.... Shalom.... Amen."