Cape Elizabeth Town Manager Michael McGovern will begin training in early February for his new position as a director of Rotary International.

McGovern’s two-year term as director of the Northeastern region begins July 1. He will attend trainings in February, March, and April in Illinois and California.

McGovern has been a member of Rotary since 1986, and has served as president of the South Portland-Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club. Though his commitment to Rotary will mean less time spent in Cape Elizabeth, he said the town council and his co-workers have pledged to support him.

McGovern will serve with 18 other Rotary International board members. Rotary International membership hovers around 1.2 million worldwide in 163 countries. Maine has 2,500 members and the South Portland Cape Elizabeth branch has about 50 members.

McGovern’s goal as director of his region is to maintain membership and market Rotary to the younger crowd.

“Like many organizations, we’re older than we were ten years ago,” he said.

Rotary is a volunteer based, service-oriented non-profit organization. It is dedicated to eliminating polio, reducing illiteracy, and increasing the clean water supply.

“In the end it’s doing meaningful projects,” McGovern said.