My name is Jan Bílek, and for anyone who has taken an interest in the Rotary Youth Exchange over the past 15 years or so, my name is likely familiar. I've been coordinating short-term youth exchanges for District 2240 for many years. Initially, I managed summer camps, and for the last three years, I've overseen family exchanges, too.
I became acquainted with Rotary shortly after its re-establishment in Czechoslovakia. In 1993, I joined RC Karlovy Vary, introduced by my friend Ivan Thýn. I found myself among a group of people bound by a deeper principle—more than just friendship or business cooperation. This essence is best captured by Rotary's famous four questions, yet even they don't fully encompass it. It's about the club's overall atmosphere, the readiness to share successes and challenges, and the commitment to support one another and the community.
When my work brought me to Prague, my family and I settled in Poděbrady in 1998. It was here, at RC Poděbrady, that I first engaged with the Rotary Youth Exchange. My son participated in a one-year exchange in Peru, and we hosted girls from Peru and the USA for long-term exchanges. Our club organized numerous summer camps, allowing us to host two international students each time. This firsthand experience showed us the transformative impact of exchange visits on young people's lives and careers. Rotary's role in this alone would be commendable.
At RC Poděbrady, I've held various roles, including Youth Exchange Officer, secretary, and club president. As club president, I'm proud to have contributed to establishing the Poděbrady amateur theatre fundraising performance—a tradition that continues today and is well-regarded by neighboring Rotary Clubs, particularly in Prague.
Over time, differing opinions on the direction of the youth exchange in our club led me to join RC Jičín in 2012. Here, I served as secretary and later as executive secretary, playing a key role in establishing the World Marathon Challenge in Jičín. This relay race involves student teams from local primary schools, supporting the global effort to eradicate polio.
Professionally, post-Velvet Revolution, I had the privilege of founding and managing two companies. The first focused on public law, while the second was purely manufacturing, specializing in energy supplies. Both companies are still operational today.
With this background, I understand the intricacies of running a business, motivating employees, launching new products, and acquiring customers. From this vantage point, accepting the nomination as governor for a district facing challenges is a challenge I embrace, even as I approach my 80th birthday during my term.
Jan Bílek
DGN for 2025/2026
