Making a difference

Huge loads of gravel were delivered by Drakenstein Municipality to a waterlogged Drommedaris Street, Mbekweni, courtesy of the Rotary Club of Paarl. Residents were invited to distribute the gravel to lift the muddy soil between their shacks.

 

That question has occupied my thoughts during my first quarter as President of the Rotary Club of Paarl. For 86 years, generations of Rotarians have given their time, their resources, their expertise and, most importantly, themselves in service to others. So I have no intention of reinventing the wheel. I want to see how we can make it turn better.

That thinking gave birth to my presidential theme: innovate • elevate • inspire. Not because we need to become something we are not, but because I believe there is still enormous potential within the Club waiting to be unlocked.

Everyone has a part to play

One of the things that has inspired me is something that, at first glance, has very little to do with Rotary. A Formula 1 pit crew can change four tyres in around 1.8 seconds. Think about that. There is no room for hesitation. No room for someone wondering whether their contribution matters. Each person knows their role, trusts the people around them and performs with extraordinary precision. The speed is impressive. But the teamwork is what fascinates me. Rotary may not have racing cars, but we do have something just as important: People.

And brilliant people at that. My role as President is not to tell these people how to do their jobs. It is to create an environment where they can bring their experience, skills, ideas and enthusiasm to the table and give their best. Sometimes people do not need to be taught how good they are. They simply need to be reminded.

Our greatest asset walks through the door

There is another issue that I believe we must confront honestly. Our members are not getting younger. With that comes something far more important than a membership statistic. Knowledge can disappear if it is not shared.

Years of experience in business, community development, fundraising, leadership, relationships and service reside within our members. What happens if that knowledge is never passed on? This is one of the reasons I want us to grow the Rotary Club of Paarl to at least 40 members. Forty is not simply a target on a spreadsheet. It represents more people bringing different generations, perspectives, skills, networks and ideas into the Club. It gives experienced Rotarians an opportunity to pass on what they have learned, while giving new members an opportunity to challenge us with fresh thinking.

Growth, therefore, is not about becoming bigger for the sake of being bigger. It is about ensuring that what Rotary Paarl has built over 86 years does not end with us.

From giving to enabling

I also believe we need to think carefully about how we serve our community. There will always be people who need immediate assistance, and there is a rightful place for compassion, relief and a helping hand. But perhaps our greatest contribution is not always what we can give someone today. Sometimes it is what we can help them build for tomorrow.

A hand-out can address a moment.  An opportunity can change a trajectory. That means looking beyond simply responding to need and asking how we can help people acquire skills, create opportunities, become economically active, build confidence and ultimately improve their own circumstances. That is the kind of community impact I want us to pursue. Not merely helping people survive. Helping people see what is possible.

What have we done this quarter?

The philosophy only matters if it translates into action. During this first quarter of teh Rotary year, our members have demonstrated that Rotary Paarl is not short of willingness to serve. From supporting vulnerable mothers and babies, to dignity packs, youth employment initiatives, community clean-up efforts, educational opportunities and assistance to families affected by hardship, our members have continued to put Service Above Self into practice.

We have also continued to strengthen relationships with organisations, businesses, community leaders and fellow Rotarians. These partnerships matter because lasting impact rarely happens in isolation. The bigger the challenge, the bigger the need to work together.

And that is perhaps the most encouraging part of this first quarter. We are beginning to see what happens when people, organisations and ideas come together with a common purpose.

So, where are we going?

I don't believe the measure of a successful Rotary year should simply be how many meetings we held, how much money we raised or how many projects we completed. Those things matter. But I believe there are deeper questions.

Those are the questions that will ultimately define our year.

86 years behind us.  A future in front of us.

The Rotary Club of Paarl has already written an extraordinary chapter of service over the past 86 years. My responsibility is not to rewrite that history. It is to help write the next chapter. A chapter where experience is shared. Where new ideas are welcomed. Where our members recognise the value they bring. Where our community sees us, knows us and understands what Rotary can do. And where we do not simply ask: “What can Rotary give?” but also: “What can Rotary help people become?”

That, to me, is lasting impact. And if we each understand our role, trust the person beside us and give our very best perhaps, like that remarkable pit crew, we might discover just how much can be achieved when everyone plays their part.

Innovate. Elevate. Inspire.

Let's make it count. – Patrick Klaassen