 Rotary 2000 |
'99-'00 RI President Carlo Ravizza |
 Consistency, Credibility, Continuity |
 |
President Carlo's 2000 Memo Rotary in Action Hong Kong Presidential Feb. 2000 Conference President Carlo's Millennium Message President Carlo's 12/99 Memo President Carlo's 10/99 NY Visit |
Rotary in Action -- Keep it Simple, a Message from RI President Carlo
Were Rotary's founding fathers to return today, they would be amazed at the changes in Rotary. But along with marveling at the organization's progress and growth, they might look with dismay at the bureaucracy that has mushroomed throughout the years.
Over the past few decades, Rotary has wrapped itself in an increasingly complex and rigid structure of rules - many of which have little or no relevance to the business of serving our communities. As an architect, I quickly learned the need to develop a vision of the whole structure before designing a single room. Yet in Rotary, we have done just the opposite. We began with one room and then kept adding on others without asking if they served an authentic purpose or if the inhabitants of the house really wanted these rooms.
We have adopted increasingly confining rules, created a complicated structure of sometimes overlapping programs, and allowed district appointments to proliferate to the extent that the Governors face unnecessary conflicts - all without fully considering the need for any of these additions. And in doing so, we have further widened the gap between the Rotary leadership and the grassroots Rotarians who are doing the real work of Rotary.
This new century gives us the opportunity to examine Rotary International today and consider how much of the elaborate structure we have created has any bearing on our true mission to support effective Rotary clubs. Let us begin now to simplify Rotary, stripping away the tangle of rules and regulations that strangle our best efforts to grow and to serve.
In doing so, we must keep in mind that Rotary International is an association of 29,000 autonomous clubs. Autonomy implies trust, and trust cannot exist in an atmosphere of over-regulation and micro-management. It's time to trust our clubs again and give them the opportunity to make their own decisions. In truth, this association needs to establish only a few explicit rules that clubs must accept as a provision for membership in Rotary International. Along with too many rules, we also have created too many programs - some of which serve similar or overlapping functions.
Rotary International and Rotary Foundation programs are meant to be tools for Rotarian service, yet they have become so complicated that many clubs don't even attempt to implement them. We must streamline these programs so that they can perform their original purpose of helping Rotarians to better serve humanity. Any efforts to simplify Rotary must be done in an international context.
In my travels this year, I have seen how Rotary means different things in different parts of the world. This diversity extends Rotary's reach and greatly enriches our organization. However, it also could give rise to regionalism, which would threaten the unity that is our greatest strength. In this era of globalization, it is essential that Rotary leaders develop an international vision, considering carefully the ramifications their decisions will have in every part of the Rotary world.
By keeping Rotary simple, more flexible and transparent, we can create a more unified vision and make it easier for all Rotarians to Act With Consistency, Credibility and Continuity.
Carlo Ravizza
Carlo Ravizza, President, Rotary International
Hong Kong Conference Message from President Carlo
The RI Presidential Conference that took place in Hong Kong, China, on February 25-27 began with the clang of a ceremonial gong by Past District Governor Raymond Wong.
"The future of Rotary is in Asia," said RI President Carlo Ravizza in his opening remarks at the conference, which was co-sponsored by The Rotary Foundation and attended by 462 Rotarians from 19 nations. "Twenty years ago, Asia membership was 14.6 percent of Rotary membership; today it is 25 percent."
President Ravizza mentioned a number of topics that called for examination, including membership, retention, and the possibility of new attendance rules. "We must create a more flexible organization and close the gap between leadership and you, the Rotarians," he said.
In his keynote address, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chairman Bill Huntley discussed the relevance of the Foundation as Rotary approaches its 100th anniversary. In particular he outlined the new Rotary Centers for International Studies, a program involving seven universities around the globe, where 70 "World Peace Scholars" will study on a two- year basis to earn Master's degrees. "You should feel very proud that the Rotary Foundation can go forward this way in peace," Huntley said.
Another conference highlight was a presentation by regional PolioPlus Committee Chairman Brian Knowles on eradication efforts in Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific. "The ultimate success of polio eradication hinges on Asia and Africa," said Knowles. "The strategy of NIDs, targeting all children up to the age of five...is obviously working. If we are to see final eradication, not only in Southeast Asia but in other polio-endemic regions, this strategy must continue." He concluded that Rotary and its partners are on target to reach the goal of global polio eradication by 2005, the 100th birthday of Rotary International.
Carlo Ravizza
Carlo Ravizza
A Millennium Message from President Carlo
I want to extend my best wishes to all Rotarians and their families for the new year, the new century and the new millennium. Rotary 2000 is now a reality, and our efforts over the past six months have helped to prepare us for the challenges of the 21st century.
Much remains to be done, however, and as we greet the new year full of energy and resolve, I ask each of you to consider how you personally can work to ensure Rotary's future. It is not only Rotary's future that is at stake today, but also the future of hundreds of thousands of people who look to Rotarians for hope.
If Rotary grows and thrives, we will be able to answer their calls for help. But if our numbers and our commitment decline, our service will diminish as well. In ringing in Rotary 2000, let us continue to Act With Consistency, Credibility and Continuity, growing in tolerance, humility and solidarity as we deepen our commitment to service through Rotary.
Carlo Ravizza
Carlo Ravizza, President, R.I.
Rotary in Action: President Carlo's Mid-year Message
Action, Action, Action: During the first half of this Rotary year, I asked Rotarians to build consistency, credibility and continuity in their clubs and districts because I believe these three qualities are essential to Rotary's future strength. I have also asked clubs to develop their membership by seeking a "quantity of quality" — identifying prospective members who have a strong desire to serve their communities — and transforming all current members into truly committed Rotarians.
Finally, I have asked each one of you to have the courage to change — to discard timeworn traditions and attitudes and rethink Rotary's structure and direction. Now, at the dawn of this new millennium, the time has come for action, action, action. For Rotarians, action means service — service to our local communities and to the world community. It is by our service that we are known and valued. If our clubs are not carrying out meaningful projects, nothing else we do will matter.
The world will not judge us by our attendance records or what we say at our meetings. It will evaluate our worth according to what we do to improve the quality of life in our local and international communities. There is no doubt in my mind that the clubs which are providing substantive service will maintain a strong membership — both in numbers and enthusiasm.
It is the clubs that are recycling tired old projects which will struggle to retain and attract members. And clubs that resist new ideas or younger members will invariably dwindle in numbers over time, unable to sustain the level of service needed to maintain credibility in their communities. But action alone is not enough.
Some clubs exert great energy on projects that essentially have little relevance to the community simply because they have become a club "tradition." Other clubs change their service agendas on an annual basis, so that the community never really identifies the club with any particular worthy cause. While the courage to change is essential to a club's growth and achievement, change must not come at the expense of continuity.
Truly effective clubs work to identify and address the most urgent needs in their communities, whether it takes 12 months or 12 years to reach their goals. To raise Rotary's image and strengthen its credibility, our actions must bring visible, long-term benefits to the communities we serve.
During the remaining six months of this Rotary year, I am asking all Rotarians to take action. But I am asking that it be the kind of action that will better serve your communities and draw new members into your club, action that will clearly identify Rotary as a vital positive force, and action that will leave a lasting mark of good. If every one of our clubs responds to this call to action by re-evaluating and revitalizing its service agenda, Rotary cannot fail to thrive and grow.
Carlo Ravizza
Carlo Ravizza, President, R.I.
Eastern Fellowship Dinner Pictures
