Ron D. Burton, a member of the Rotary
Club of
Norman, Oklahoma, USA, is the selection of the Nominating
Committee for President of Rotary International in 2013-14.
Burton will become the president-nominee on 1 October if there
are no challenging candidates.
Burton retired as president of the University of Oklahoma
Foundation Inc. in 2007. He is a member of the American Bar
Association, as well as the bar associations of Cleveland County
and the state of Oklahoma. He is admitted to practice in
Oklahoma and before the U.S. Supreme Court.
"This is an exciting time to be a Rotarian," Burton says. "I
believe we are well poised to capitalize on our strengths as we
embrace the [RI] Strategic Plan and the Future Vision Plan. My
vision is to have every Rotarian appreciate what it means to be
a Rotarian. With these two tools, we can make that happen."
Active in his community, Burton is a founder and past president
of the Norman Public School Foundation, and founder and past
board member of the Norman Community Foundation. A recipient of
the Silver Beaver Award, he is a past vice president of the Last
Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Burton believes that Rotary's promotion of high ethical
standards is one of the qualities that sets it apart from other
organizations.
"It assures those dealing with us that we can be trusted," he
says. "Most of us are in a business or profession that already
has a code of ethics. Vocational service in Rotary just adds to
that responsibility. We have an obligation to go above and
beyond to make sure that all our actions are above reproach."
A Rotarian since 1979, Burton is vice chair of the Future Vision
Committee and a member of the Polio Eradication Advocacy Task
Force for the United States. He has served RI as director;
Rotary Foundation trustee and trustee vice chair; International
Assembly moderator, assistant moderator, and group discussion
leader; and district governor.
His other service to Rotary includes chair of the 2011 New
Orleans Convention Committee, vice chair of the Investment
Advisory Committee, liaison trustee of the Vocational Service
Committee, Permanent Fund national adviser, and regional Rotary
Foundation coordinator. He was aide to 2006-07 RI President
William B. Boyd.
Burton has received the RI Service Above Self Award and The
Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service,
Distinguished Service Award, and International Service Award for
a Polio-Free World.
Burton and his wife, Jetta, have two children and three
grandchildren.
The 2011 nominating committee members are John M. Pinson, USA
(chair); Eric E.L. Adamson, USA; Lars-Olof Fredriksson, Finland;
Serge Gouteyron, France; Jerry L. Hall, USA; Rafael G. Hechanova,
Philippines; Toshio Itabashi, Japan; Michael J. Johns, USA;
Kwang Tae Kim, Korea; David D. Morgan, Wales; Hans J. Müller-Rech,
Germany; M.K. Panduranga Setty, India; Julio Sorjús, Spain;
Carlos E. Speroni, Argentina; Robert A. Stuart Jr., USA;
Yoshimasa Watanabe, Japan; and C. Grant Wilkins, USA.
