William E. “Bill” Ballou, Kearney

Read DG Bill Ballou’s message to the District

	William “Bill” E. Ballou & Ila 4006 20th Avenue Kearney, NE 68847 H: 308-234-5791 W: 308-234-9813 Cell: 308-293-3555 F: 308-234-5791 Email Bill

Bill feels it is an honor and privilege to have been asked to be Governor for Rotary District 5630 as we enter the second century of “Service above Self’ in 2005.

Bill and his wife, Ila, have been the owners and managers of The Solid Rock, “The Christian Worker’s Department Store” in Kearney, Nebraska since 1974. They have three children; a daughter, Carmin, an attorney in Chicago; son Aaron, and his wife Ashley, teachers in Temecula, California; and son, Isaac, who works in Kearney and is a student at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

Whcn Bill was invited to join the Kearney Rotary Club in 1983 he was encouraged by the potential offered in international opportunities. He participates on the International Committee and often served as chairman. He went through the “officers chairs” and was club president the Rotary Year 1 990-1 991.

He has been an Assistant Governor for District 5630, GSE committee member and chairman, and was GSE team leader to District 3730 Kangwon-do, Korea in 1993. 

Bill has been active with Rotaplast International as an Ambassador for 05630 and has been on two Rotaplast missions to the Philippines. Bill and lla toured the “Children of the Dump” Rotary International project in Chinandaga, Nicaragua in March of 2004. Bill revisited in April 2005 and has been instrumental in fundraising efforts through club visits and coordinating “Children of the Dump” choir visits.

Bill is a Paul Harris Fellow, and they recently joined the Paul Harris Society. Bill and lla are both Rotary Foundation Benefactors. 

The Ballous’ are members of the Kearney Evangelical Free Church and have served in a number of areas. He is a long time Deacon and has been on several overseas mission projects to Venezuela, Mexico, Ghana and Nigeria. He is a member of Gideons International and has filled many local and state positions with that organization.

Bill has been on the Board of the Kearney Area Chamber of Commerce and the Nebraska Retail Merchants Association. He served on the board of the International Christian Booksellers Association and a term as First Vice-President. Bill was one of four co-founders of the Kearney Area Habitat for Humanity Chapter. This Chapter was honored as the International Affiliate of the year in 2005 for cities under 50,000 population.

Bill is a professional yo-yoer and has entertained and performed for people on five continents. He enjoys woodworking, bookbinding, and watching track and field competitions on all levels. He especially enjoys his Rotarian friendships and associations and looks forward to serving as District 5630 Governor.