PDG Thomas A. Gump

​Tom is passionate about growing Rotary Membership through forming new and innovative, cause-based Rotary, Rotaract and satellite clubs. He founded the first ever Rotary Club to serve veterans and co-founded the world’s first Rotary club to end human trafficking. He helped found the Rotary Club of Network for Empowering Women and The Kaleidoscope Rotaract Club, to serve those with Autism and their families. He also helped form the Rotaract eClub for the Environment - the first ever cause-based, international, Rotaract eClub focusing on the environment, which was the innovative club example used by Rotary International General Secretary and CEO John Hewko in his closing remarks at the 2021 Rotary Virtual Convention.

Tom was one of only 20 North American Rotary leaders selected by Rotary International Past President Mark Maloney and Rotary International Membership Staff to participate in a New Club Development Summit and was subsequently named as a Zone 29 Innovative Club Advocate. Tom also serves as an Assistant Rotary Coordinator for membership.

Tom now inspires others around the world and helps them form their own new and innovative Rotary clubs. He speaks regularly on the topic of membership at Rotary club, district, multi-district and zone events and as a breakout panelist at the 2020 and 2021 Rotary International Virtual Conventions. The North American Rotary magazine and other Rotary regional magazines have written about Tom and his district’s new and innovative clubs; and, Tom’s tips for attracting and retaining members have also been featured as part of a cover story.

Tom serves his zone-pair as the General Chair of this year’s Institute and was the Assistant General Chair of last year's virtual Institute. He is also a 2022 Rotary International Assembly Training Leader. Tom loves promoting Rotary and has served his zones (28 & 29) as their Promotion Coordinator for both the Honolulu Virtual and Toronto Rotary International Conventions. He was an Assistant Zone Promotion Coordinator for the Hamburg International Convention.

He is married to his wife Catherine Gump, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Edina, Minnesota, USA. Their son Andrew is involved in the Edina Interact Club. The Gump family is very involved in Rotary Youth Exchange having hosted six long-term exchange students.

Tom serves on the Board of Directors for: Rotary International District 5950, District 5950 Foundation and North Central Presidents-Elect Training Seminar. He formerly served on the Board of Directors for North Star Rotary Youth Exchange.

Last year, as District 5950 Governor, Tom led his district to become only the third district in the world to ever have all of its clubs designated as 100% Paul Harris Fellow Clubs; and, in so doing, his district became one of the top overall giving districts in the world. Tom and Catherine are both Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation and members of both its Paul Harris and Bequest Societies.

​Tom is a licensed attorney in four states and holds a real estate brokerage license. Tom assists people in buying and selling commercial real estate. In addition to serving Rotary, he serves his local community as Chair of the Edina Community Foundation.