This is a story; it is only a story. No true Rotarians were harmed or injured in the writing of this story, and none need any further explanation. It is dedicated to all those Rotarians who have done a good job as district governor.

There was a past district governor who couldn't keep from meddling. He had become an officer, and ultimately president of his Rotary club by outlasting all of the other possible candidates, and then saying 'yes' one year when everyone else who had been asked said 'no' to the club's nominating committee.

When he was his club president, he had to meddle with every chair and every committee. No detail was minute enough to escape his control. After his year of service, the meddling didn't stop.

"After all, I am a past president, and I know best." And he meddled and meddled.

Several years later, the board of directors of his club, having run out of patience at being told what to do, decided to nominate the meddler for district governor.

Having read "The Peter Principle", they figured that he would be busy meddling with the district, and would leave them alone. The meddler met the nominating committee and answered their questions, but was not selected for the next district governor, so our meddler continued to meddle.

When the new club board of directors took over in July, the meddler was there to tell them what to do and how to do it. Almost immediately, the new board decided to nominate the meddler for district governor again as soon as possible. This time, there were no other candidates, and while the nominating committee thought they could do better, a couple of PDGs remembered him from the previous year, and felt he was "involved". So the meddler became district governor, and he meddled. No detail was minute enough to escape his control.

After his year as governor, the meddling didn't stop. "After all, I am a Past District Governor, and I know best." And he meddled and meddled and enjoyed it. After all, he had his club AND the district to meddle with.

Each year, he was appointed to a new district committee by the incoming governor, as he wore out his welcome on his old committee. One day he got upset at a committee member and chewed him out. At the end of his rant the PDG said, "I guess when I die you'll come and dance on my grave."

The veteran Rotarian, who was a retired military officer said, "Not me, Governor. I promised myself that when I got out of the Army, I'd never stand in another line."

Doug Rudman