As the incoming District Governor of Rotary International District 5340, which includes 61 Rotary Clubs comprising 3,000 members in San Diego and Imperial Counties, Dan Gensler is no stranger to both challenges and honors.  He has been a member of The Rotary Club of Coronado since 1996 and was named Rotarian of the Year in 2004.  In addition, he served as President from 2006-07. 
 
Dan and his family have been in Coronado since 1993.  He first saw Coronado when he was in town for a conference and made it a goal to live there someday.  The professional opportunity to move to the San Diego area arrived shortly thereafter and Dan took it, opening his financial planning business, The Gensler Group, in 1995.  Dan is a Certified Financial Planner and has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as among America’s Top Financial Advisors.

Dan has three primary goals for his year as District Governor:  Raise $1 million to help end Polio worldwide, create international Rotary experiences for local Rotarians and grow membership by 50 people.  It comes as no surprise that Dan has targeted international projects and experiences as a goal for the District, since he has been most inspired during his time as a Rotarian by his own international experiences.  Dan and his team are building a resource of international projects and activities at www.Rotary5340.org for Rotarians to easily find international opportunities to participate in.   
 
The two projects that have been most inspiring for Dan are Missionvale Care Center and Limbs of Freedom.  

Missionvale Care Center is located in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.  Dan and other club members have traveled to this township to study and determine the priority of needs for the people in this area. Dan has also gotten to know and respect Sister Ethel, a nun who has devoted her life to serving the poor and marginalized people. The Rotary Club of Coronado has successfully completed several Rotary Matching Grants to assist this poverty-stricken area. 
 
Limbs of Freedom is a project that Dan witnessed from its beginnings, which supports volunteer prosthetists who evaluate, build, fit and adjust prosthetics for those in need at no charge to those who would otherwise have no access to such a service.  Located in Ensenada, Mexico, the Rotary Club of Coronado has worked with the Calafia Rotary Club of Ensenada, providing funds to equip the clinic with the necessary tools, equipment and materials and continues to provide the personnel and funds needed for food and lodging for the volunteers. 

Through these and other programs, Dan has seen the humanitarian impact of Rotary and is convinced that understanding these programs will open the eyes of many Rotarians and friends to what is possible to achieve with the worldwide organization.

The challenge of inspiring 3,000 Rotarians is not lost on Dan.  He has determined that the key to successful concurrent management of his business with a large Rotary District comes with delegation.  To further his goals, Dan plans to visit every club in the District.  Inspiring club members with his example, Dan hopes new leaders will emerge to carry the message of “Service Above Self” worldwide.