DG Shares his Hopes for this Rotary Year

The DG spoke to the club about the theme for the year "The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands" and in particular about the need to encourage the crfeation of Rotaract, Interact and Earlyact clubs. Without interested youngsters coming through, there will be little hope for the future. Rotary, he told us, is the only world-wide service organisation that is presently not declining in membership numbers - but it could be doing better. He also stressed the RI President's goal of 80% retention for the coming year - we not only have to find new members, but we have to actively strive to keep the members we already have interested in "Service Above Self" and the projects that the club will be pursuing over the coming year. Finally he talked about his desire for active involvement in the re-building of a school in Haiti - both in terms of donations and also in time and energy as he is inviting Rotarrians from across the District to gather for a weekend of fellowship and service in April 2010, in Haiti, actively supporting the project. It was a pleasure having the DG and his 'first lady' Leonie with us - and we have lots of 'food for thought' in terms of where Rotary Central is going over the coming year.