DISTRICT GOVERNORS
GOALS & OBJECTIVES & RESULTS: 2007-08
How Will We Share Rotary?
By DG Marlene B. Brown
As we all know, Rotary is a worldwide organization
of business and professional leaders that provides humanitarian service,
encourages high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build
goodwill and peace in the world. Approximately 1.2 million Rotarians
belong to more than 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical
areas.
The main objective of Rotary is service
— in the community, in the workplace, and throughout the world.
Rotarians develop community service projects that address many of
today's most critical issues, such as children at risk, poverty and
hunger, water & sanitation, the environment, illiteracy, and violence.
They also support programs for youth, educational opportunities and
international exchanges for students, teachers, and other professionals,
and vocational and career development.
Varies and wonderful programs. What do we
focus on this year?
Each new Rotary year, Rotary International President's
and District Governors get a chance to emphasize areas of importance
to them. Wilf Wilkinson is emphasizing the following: Water &
Sanitation; Health & Hunger; Literacy: plus the Family of Rotary;
Public Relations; Polio Eradication, and Net 1 new member per Club.
Literacy: Literacy empowers
people. It is the foundation for poverty reduction, social inclusion,
and economic development. Today, more than 800 million people in the
world cannot read or write, and 64% of them are women & girls.
Water: Water is essential to human life,
yet many take safe water for granted. Today, 1.1 billion people, nearly
20% of the world population, lack access to safe, clean drinking water,
and 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation facilities.
Every 8 seconds, a child dies from a preventable waterborne illness.
These circumstances contribute to poverty & social instability.
Health & Hunger: affects the entire
world. Preventable diseases like HIV/AIDS & malaria result in
deaths of over 6 million people each year. As a result of poor access
to quality health care, 529,000 women die during childbirth; over
6.6 million children never see their 5th birthday. Many health issues
are related to hunger. Every year, over 852 million people are malnourished,
making them susceptible to disease. Aids kills parents, so children
of 8 & 9 run the household.
Family of Rotary: encompasses all Rotarians,
their families, Rotaract, RYLA, YE, Interact, thereby strengthening
clubs & instilling a sense of integrity, tolerance, and unselfishness
in the next generation. Involve your own family in Rotary.
As Governor, following are District
Goals I've chosen to empasize:
Seek grants to do the following:
* Do matching grant International projects with India (micro credit
for woman – the originator recently won a Nobel Prize for it),
Haiti (water & sanitation project), Ghana & Nigeria (polio
eradication), Ukraine (tuberculosis) + Bed nets to sleep 2 people
to prevent malaria & Composting toiliets.
* Do local DDF projects in Literacy with refugees.
* Look at forming an e-Rotaract Club with a local college.
* Ask each Club to have a Family Event during the year.
Focus on Membership Recruitment and Retention:
Each year, district membership chairs worldwide are surveyed by Rotary
Int’l to identify district membership activities and trends,
identifying factors they believe led to membership growth & loss.
Membership Growth factors (most recent survey results):
* Strong Club commitment to membership growth (49.2%)
* Strong Club leadership (47.7%)
* Enjoyable Club meetings (46.7%)
Membership Loss Factors: (most recent survey results)
* Weak Club leadership (46.7%)
* Aging members (44.1%)
* Weak Club programs (42.6%)
* Clubs not appealing to young members (42.6%)
Recruitment / Retention / New Club thoughts:
* Recruitment - Use Alumni list for Clubs to pursue new members
* Retention – Have Clubs work together on projects
* Have Lively speakers
* New Clubs – Twilight Club during rush hour time? *
Grandparents / Grandchildren Club?
Member Education & Involvement:
* Governor’s newsletter will be emailed to AG's, Club President's
& Club Secretaries to distribute to Clubs
* Create “Rotary Awareness Quiz” to include in newsletter
for Clubs to use at each meeting
* Utilize R. I.’s e-learning Center (tools & resources)
Diversity in Membership:
* Characteristics of Clubs should include Age, Gender, Race, Religion,
Nationality, Employment
* Pick up demographics from your local government
* Create a Classification Roster so you know where openings are
* Aim for the New Member Sponsor Pins to be given out by the
District Governor to each member who brings in new member
Public Image
Rotary’s Public Image campaign is called “Humanity in
Motion”. (DVD Edition 3 – covers PSA’s, Billboards,
Newspapers, Posters). ”Rotary Serves & Shares locally &
globally.”
Strategies for working with the Media:
* Identify the media outlets in your area, and build relationships
with them.
* Approach a reporter or editor directly; tell your story succinctly
in an email or press release that answers the basic questions of who,
what, where, when, how, and why.
It was with humble pride when I learned that I am the 1st
Rotary International Governor from an eClub. Our earthly headquarters
is in The Utica Children’s Museum, adopted by NASA.
Foundation Goals
TRF Trustee Chair’s Goals/Dreams: “My goals are your goals.
Let us finish the job.” Our goals are his goals.
* Polio eradication is realistic (there are 4 countries left with
2,000 cases)
* Every Rotarian Every Year (contributing to projects of their choice)
* Charter a Paul Harris Society in District 7150
* Rotary Centers for Int’l Studies in Peace & Conflict Resolution
* Alumni (only out 6 years, neglected area – we need to reach
out to those who benefited from TRF to ask them to join Rotary!)
* Educate people on where Polio eradication has succeeded
& the 4 countries it’s left in
Supporting our Rotary Foundation
Outoing TRF Chair Luis Vincente Guay – “the more you give,
the more you receive. The amount back is 4x more than given”
* DDF (District Designated Funds) * DSG’s (District Simplified
Grants) * Matching Grants (for International multi-district projects)
* HG (Humanitarian Grants) * Share ($’s back to the district)
* Personally ask for donations to the TRF (to contribute to both local
& international projects)
* Clubs set their own goals for Annual Programs Fund & Permanent
Fund giving
* Club TRF goal reports need to be sent in to TRF
* We will Reward & Recognize those Clubs who meet their goals
Humanitarian Programs
Types of funding Districts can seek to support projects:
* DDF – used how we want to in the district
* Matching Grants – need international partners to get this
funding
* Volunteer Service Grants – use for travel
* 3-H Grants – multi-year, huge $’s, different District
& countries required
* DSG – District Simplified Grants (20% of DDF)
* Goal: have every Club do a DSF in Literacy or Water or Hunger or
Family of Rotary
* Each AG, President & Club Foundation Chair should have the RF
Quick Reference Guide booklet handy
Stewardship Practices
* Choose Valuable Projects & see them through to the end
* Set up approval system for reporting
Protecting Our Youth - The District
Governor has responsibility for the YE’s in their district:
* YE began in 1957 – last two years R. I. has required
accredidation & background checks
* Have a Child Protection Officer in our District (do a background
check on everyone over 18)
* We have a Plan in place to prevent Abuse & Harrassment &
Procedures in place to manage it if it occurs!
* Each YE student and advisor have the information on how to report,
who to report to, implications of false accusations
* R.I. committed to safeguard All Youth programs (YE, RYLA, Interact,
Rotaract) with ~0~ tolerance
* R. I. Board of Directors developed a Statement of Conduct
for working with Youth. "Rotary International strives to create
and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary
activities. To the best of their ability, Rotarians, Rotarians’
spouses and partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children
and young people they come into contact with and protect them from
physical, sexual, and emotional abuse".
* District YE Certification is mandatory by June 30, 2007
(otherwise no new exchanges) District leaders must
review it annually
Leadership - “Rotary begins
with the clubs, and the strongest clubs are those with the best leaders.
District governors are in a unique position to appoint a qualified
group of leaders dedicated to furthering their service in Rotary.
As leaders, they are to uphold high ethical & moral standards”.
Effective Rotary leaders motivate & inspire, and influence others
to serve the Rotary vision.
* “Rotary Astronauts Serve Above & Beyond”
* Rotary change occurs on a yearly basis, from the top down
* Critical leadership qualities include:
* Wearing our Rotary pins at all times
* Remembering that Excellence requires Passion
* Encourage others to go beyond the Club
* ASK people to get involved, to join, to give
* Use AG’s to help identify future leaders *
* Recognize District & Club leaders with pins and certificates
* Have Clubs consider a “4-Way Rotary Speech Contest”
w/schools (the Clubs run the contests with high school students, Club
selects one candidate who goes to the semi-finals in a district auditorium,
the winner presents at the Dist. Conference)
Rotary Marks Policy - As we
complete our Projects, remember they need to have the Club or District
name/# on it, not just Rotary
i.e. “Donated by RC of ___”) This markets the Club &
prevents lawsuits. With just the name Rotary Park, if someone gets
hurt there, R. I. can get sued, legal battles ensue, dues go up. Clubs
are covered with R. I. insurance
* Cannot alter Rotary wheel emblem
* Must follow gold & blue or black & white
Plan For Success
District Success = Stronger Clubs, More Members, TRF participation,
100% Presidential Citations
* Club President’s should strive to appoint Club Chairs for
all 5 DLP/CLP areas & R. I. P.’s 4 Areas & Polio+
* Share with others in the District Projects your Club will continue;
new ones you’d like to start; and Int’l Projects you want
to be part of
* Work with your AG's to get your Club Planning Guides in to the DG
The following categories reflect areas where
our district can make significant improvements, expansions, and impacts,
as we Share Rotary:
Education: Every Rotarian who is
serious about his/her commitment to our organization should make every
effort to be as well informed about Rotary as they can be. The district
offers several training opportunities each year, and my team and I
will aim for 100% club representation at each of these events.
Presidential Citations: This citation
is a measuring stick for club performance, to insure that Rotary clubs
are working in all four avenues of service, and fulfilling the Object
of Rotary to the best of their ability. Every club in our district
is capable of achieving this citation. The Assistant Governors will
be working with each club to help them meet the criteria.
M&M's: are what is called the two
critical elements necessary for the success of Rotary, both at the
club level, and worldwide. The M&M stands for Membership and Money.
We can't do what we want to do without members to do the work, and
money to pay for what's needed. We need the legs on the ground and
the hands on the checks.
Foundation Giving: The Rotary Foundation
of Rotary International is a not-for-profit corporation that promotes
world understanding through international humanitarian service programs
and educational and cultural exchanges. It is supported solely by
voluntary contributions from Rotarians and others who share its vision
of a better world. Since 1947, the Foundation has awarded more than
US$1.1 billion in humanitarian and educational grants, which are initiated
and administered by local Rotary clubs and districts. Rotary International
is asking us to strive toward the goal of an equivalent of $100 per
Rotarian per year.
Fulfilling Our Promise for Polio Eradication:
Each club in the district has made a commitment, in dollars, to
the Polio Eradication Fundraising Campaign. Under the leadership of
PDG Ed Paparella, our district was one of only a handful that had
100% club participation. These pledges, worldwide, have exceeded the
goal of $80 million, at $88.5 million. We have made a promise, and
we need to keep it.
Make-ups: A make-up in Rotary is
the best way for a Rotarian to enjoy the fellowship of new Rotary
friends, and a great way to learn something new, or share something
of our own. Strive to do at least one make-up meeting in another club
this year, and expand their experience of Rotary. Not always possible?
Do a makeup on our own District eClub!
Bling: Wear your Rotary pins! Everywhere
you go, have that pin on your collar or lapel. You'll be surprised
how often another Rotarian comes up to say hello & to share. Or
you are asked what it stands for, and that's your opportunity to tell
someone new about Rotary, and what a significant contribution our
organization is making in the strife-torn, poverty-stricken and disease-ridden
places of our world!
Newsletters: if every club in District
7150 could create a monthly newsletter that communicates the activities
of the club to each member, this would be a wonderful way of sharing
Rotary. We'll be publishing our Credo monthly online.
National Make-A-Difference Day: Once
again we will participate in National Make-A-Difference Day. Each
club (or a group of clubs) is encouraged to decide on a project in
their community, and make a difference as we Share Rotary.
Rotary Leadership Institute: District
7150 will be offering our annual Rotary Leadership Institute seminar
at Verona BOCES. This year we will offer Parts I, II, III and Graduate
courses. Talk to someone who has already taken Parts I, II or III,
and you will be inspired by their enthusiasm and their assessment
of this program's worth!
Club Extension: We all know there
are needs in our communities, where our Rotary clubs are making a
difference. But can we identify geographic areas within our district
that could benefit from a Rotary presence? Our district Club Extension
Committee has the task of creating new Rotary clubs, where there is
a need.
District Conference: This year the
District Conference is at a unique and memorable site-the Friar Tuck
Resort & Conference Center (in Catskill, NY, 10 miles off the
thruway from Albany). Our District Conference committee members have
been working to make this an unforgettable and one-of-a-kind event.
Visit the District Conference website for more information and registration
forms. Register now for best room selection and to be eligible for
neat prizes!
In addition to these categories, we have
a Group Study Exchange going out to India's District 3200.
We are currently seeking candidates for Rotarian Team Leader, and
subsequently will be looking for four team members from the professions
of literacy, adult education, or reading education for our Focus Exchange.
While some of these goals will require time
and effort to achieve, you have the generous support of the district
staff, committee chairs and their committee members. Their willingness
to serve Rotary and the district is a tribute to their commitment
to our organization.
We are all here to help the clubs and Rotarians
in this district be the best they can be, as they definitely make
a difference in the lives of others, and Share Rotary where it is
needed.
A mightly plate full to accomplish in only a year? Confucius
said “If you shoot for the stars and hit the moon, it's okay.
But you've got to shoot for something. A lot of people don't even
shoot.” Let's all aim high this year, sharing Rotary to build
a better world. because Rotary Shares and Rotarians
Care.
