DONG KURN (D.K.) LEE

TRUSTEE CHAIR 2013-14

APRIL 2014

Celebrate Magazine Month.

Today, with Rotary's club membership spanning more than 200 countries and geographical areas, its publications are more vital than ever. The RI Board of Directors has designated April of every year as Magazine Month, and it is a time to recognize the role that our Rotary publications play in our Rotary lives – and the role that we should play in our publications.

The Rotarian, which is edited here at RI headquarters in Evanston, Ill., USA, has a circulation of about 500,000. Around the world, 31 more magazines are published in more than 20 languages. In total, these 32 magazines reach more than 1.2 million people. To make this happen, it takes more than just an editorial staff – it also takes the good work of Rotarians. I always feel that the best part of reading any Rotary publication is the opportunity to find out what other clubs are doing. Each issue, each article, is a chance to be informed and inspired.

In an era when electronic communication seems to be everywhere, the role of paper magazines is still important to our organization, but we must be open to new formats to get the word out. That's why, this April, I encourage you all to explore The Rotarian magazine's new digital experience: TheRotarianMagazine.com. Email the stories to friends and family. Share them on Facebook and Twitter. This is a chance to take the great ideas and great work of Rotarians even further and to inspire future generations to do the same.