Roberts becomes Cape's first Black Rotary District Governor

Bruce Rutter

Special to the Patriot

As we emerge from a year of quarantine, we have a choice: go back to the way things were or move forward towards something better. So many people of good will in the communities of Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island are choosing to consider new possibilities, including the opportunity to create more diverse and inclusive societies. The question on their minds is, "Who will lead the way?" While many small groups are working to effect change, one highly respected organization with global reach and local clout is quietly stepping forward: Rotary.

Rotary International is a unique federation of over 1.2 million members in 35,000 clubs around the world, whose motto “Service above Self” is realized in programs from the granting of individual college scholarships to the eradication of polio from the planet. Diversity and Inclusion are in the very DNA or Rotary, as witnessed by its vision: "Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves."

Rotary Clubs in New England are taking this vision seriously, working to make their own clubs more diverse, and promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in their communities.

As of July 1, Rotary District 7950, which covers 60+ clubs in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, has its first African-American District Governor: Dr. William Roberts.

Rotary District 7950, which covers 60+ clubs in Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands, has its first African-American District Governor: Dr. William Roberts of Barnstable.

Known to friends and colleagues as Billy, Roberts, whose clinical and consulting practice serves peoples of diverse backgrounds, has been deeply involved in both Rotary and the community. Roberts has served as President of the Barnstable Sunrise Rotary Club, Assistant District Governor, and Chairman of the District’s Diversity Committee.

He was elected as a member of the United States National Governing Body of the Baha’i Faith in 1998 and served as its Treasurer for 13 years. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of both the Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled and the Cape Cod Community College Educational Foundation.

Rotary Clubs have long been active in promoting good will and understanding across cultures, sponsoring visits between clubs around the world, supporting student exchange programs, and funding projects in the developing world, such as clean water programs in Cambodia, Haiti and Guatemala and girls’ education in Afghanistan, India and Uganda. Many clubs are now engaging in the issue of diversity and inclusion in their own communities. One great example is the Duxbury club, which set a challenge for themselves—to make their town prejudice-free. Over the past 12 months, they’ve launched a campaign in partnership with the Interfaith Council called “Duxbury for All”. The campaign has already engaged hundreds in the community, and has inspired their local Board of Selectmen to issue an anti-discrimination proclamation, and to host a summit of community leaders to plan how the town will realize the vision of a safe and welcoming community for all.