By Cindi O’Neil
On behalf of the District, we are pleased to announce that the District 5110 Nominating Committee has formally met and put forth the name of Charles J. (Jim) Polk, a member of the Rotary Club of Illinois Valley, to serve as District Governor in the year 2023-2024.
As required by our nomination policy, the District Governor shall pass this information on to each club within 72 hours of receipt of the name, along with the candidate’s qualifications. This publication shall serve as notice to the clubs of the recommendation of the nominating committee. Official notice has also been sent to all Club Presidents in an email. Should a club feel there are issues with the nominee and wish to challenge, they will have 14 days from today, Oct. 6, 2020 to notify the District Governor. That date will be Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020
We are pleased to introduce you to Jim Polk with the following biography he has provided during the selection process.
Charles J. (Jim) Polk
Jim is a double retiree enjoying life. Service to the people of the United States and the citizens of the local community is the motivating factor in his life and Rotary allows that to continue and expand into service to the world.
Jim’s career in the U.S. Air Force started in 1971 and lead to him being an Aircrew member serving as a Far East Cryptologic Linguist (Chinese Mandarin). Upon retirement for the military, Jim accepted the challenge of serving the City of Cave Junction as the City Recorder/Treasurer. Jim’s Rotary experience began as a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Illinois Valley in 2007 when fellow public officials pressured him to become involved with the formation of the new club. Belonging to the club was anticipated to be a short experience and the intent was to help with the numbers for chartering and then to step away. The shared experiences and the friendships made provided a renewed desire in a different avenue of service and to become more involved. Jim was elected to the position of Director in 2011 and advanced in the leadership roles to serve as Club President (2015-16).
Since that time, he continues to serve the Club as the Treasurer, performs the duties of Club Administration. He served as the Club’s Foundation Chair for one year and assists as a member of the Membership Committee, and supports efforts for having a successful association with RYLA, Student of the Month and Scholarships. He completed the Rotary Leadership Academy and is a graduate of the District Leadership Academy. He served as the Foundation, Part 1, facilitator for the Academy and stepped out of his comfort zone to stand in as a presenter for the Secretary training at the District Training Assembly. After serving one year as an Assistant Governor, he accepted the opportunity to expand his service to the District as the District Treasurer.
Jim is a multiple recipient of his Club’s Rotarian of the Year, is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society and a member of the District Polio Plus Society. His initiative led to the implementation of a community service project to conduct a quarterly litter patrol along the state highway that was expanded into a quarterly community-wide cleanup project. He is a vocal and involved participant in the Rotary Duck Derby fundraising effort for local community projects.
Jim is a native Oregonian (Hillsboro) and other than the first six months of his life and his time in the military, has been a resident in Josephine County. He is a member of the 1970 graduating class of Grants Pass High School and was a math major when he attended Southern Oregon College. He received an Associate of Applied Sciences Degree (Interpreting and Translating) from the Community College of the Air Force in 1983. Jim and his better half, best friend, soul mate and wife, Katie, started their shared life in 1973 and raised a son, Chris. They have two granddaughters (one Rotarian and both Paul Harris Fellows) and three step grandchildren. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time reading, trying to avoid extremely high scores on the golf course and attempting to get quality photographs of the wildlife that ventures into the path of a camera.