Anil Garg Anil Garg, of Simi Valley, has assumed the volunteer post of Rotary International district governor for 2008-09.

As governor, Garg will coordinate the community and international service projects of the 72 clubs in the Rotary International District 5240 which includes Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Kern counties. Garg will assume office July 1, 2008 and will serve through June 30, 2009.

Garg is one of 529 Rotarians worldwide serving as a district governor for that year. A member of the Rotary Club of Simi Valley for 12 years, Garg will also be responsible for organizing new Rotary clubs and strengthening existing ones.

During an announcement ceremony in Simi Valley, Garg said his main goals for 2008-09 are to help make the clubs more effective in order to serve the local and international communities better.

"As local leaders and volunteers, Rotarians can help find community solutions to local needs," Garg said.

Area Rotary clubs are involved in many local and international service activities. The Rotary Club of Simi Sunset distributed dictionaries to schools. The clubs in the district raised money last year to fight polio in Nigeria and India.

Garg, a financial planner, has led five teams to India for polio eradication and went to the Muslim-dominated part of Nigeria last year. Locally, he has volunteered at the Free Clinic in Simi Valley, Camp Rotary and others.

The goal of Rotary International is service in the community and throughout the world. As volunteers, Rotarians build goodwill and peace, provide humanitarian service, and encourage high ethical standards in all vocations.

There are some 1.2 million Rotarians in more than 31,000 clubs in more than 160 countries.