This year's Rotary International Convention is being held in Atlanta, Georgia, from June 10 to June 14. Rotarians from around the world will be convening to share stories, learn about youth programs, exchange ideas about peace and conflict resolution and celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation. I looks to be a very festive occasion.
In 2017-18, we’ll answer the question “What is Rotary?” with RI President-elect Ian H.S. Riseley’s theme, Rotary: Making a Difference. “Whether we’re building a new playground or a new school, improving medical care or sanitation, training conflict mediators or midwives, we know that the work we do will change people’s lives — in ways large and small — for the better.”
The Object of Rotary is a philosophical statement of Rotary’s purpose and the responsibilities
of Rotarians. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the Second Object, which calls on
Rotarians to “encourage and foster”:
• High ethical standards in business and professions
• The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations
• The dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society
As a Rotarian, how can you put these ideals into action? Consider these suggestions:
• Talk about your vocation in your club, and take time to learn about fellow members’ vocations.
• Use your professional skills to serve a community.
• Practice your profession with integrity, and inspire others to behave ethically through your own words and actions.
• Help a young person achieve his or her career aspirations.
• Guide and encourage others in their professional development.
If you do any of these things, you are performing vocational service. And if vocational service motivates and energizes you, then you’re in the right place, because vocational service is the very essence of Rotary. It is what sets Rotary apart from other service organizations.
The 2018 Rotary Peace Fellowship application is now available! Our new online application will streamline the submission and review process and help districts manage the increasing number of Rotary Peace Fellowship applications.
Users of the new application can expect:
Better functionality and design
A district dashboard for reviewing and endorsing applications and communicating with applicants
Automated email communications from the platform
Technical support and training from our platform provider, Embark
A sign-in process that is separate from My Rotary and other Rotary databases and applications
Please note that the application is in English only, and we will no longer be able to accept PDF applications. As a Rotary leader, you play a key role in communicating information about the peace centers program to club and district leaders, who help identify and nominate candidates for the fellowships. We encourage you to use and share these resources:
Candidates have until 31 May to submit applications to their district. Districts must submit endorsed applications to The Rotary Foundation by 1 July. Should you need technical support in this transition, please contact Embark at support@embark.com. General inquiries regarding the fellowship program may be sent to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org. We thank you for your dedication to the Rotary Peace Centers and your continuous support in educating the Rotary network about the fellowships!
One of the hottest topics in Rotary is that of how to retain current members. Clubs often lose numerous members for various resaons such as lack of interest or lack of time to commit. The first step when trying to retain members is to understand why a club loses members. By doing so, it becomes easier to understand what de-motivates people away from the club. So, how does a club motivate its members to stay?
This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is about Every Rotarian, Every Year.
"The Rotary Foundation enables our clubs and districts to multiply their service efforts many times over. This effect is increasing as the Foundation・s humanitarian grant projects become larger in scale to profoundly improve the lives of more people. We can help Make Dreams Real for children and their families today by giving at least US$100 to the Annual Programs Fund through the Every Rotarian, Every Year initiative. And we can help ensure their needs will be met tomorrow by building a strong endowment through contributions to the Permanent Fund." — 2003-04 RI President Jonathan Majiyagbe
In many Rotary clubs, it is customary to open weekly meetings with an appropriate invocation or blessing. Usually such invocations are offered without reference to specific religious denominations or faiths.
Rotary policy recognizes that throughout the world Rotarians represent many religious beliefs, ideas, and creeds. The religious beliefs of each member are fully respected, and nothing in Rotary is intended to prevent each individual from being faithful to such convictions.
At international assemblies and conventions, it is traditional for a silent invocation to be given. In respect for all religious beliefs and in the spirit of tolerance for a wide variety of personal faiths, all persons are invited to seek divine guidance and peace in their own way. It is an inspiring experience to join with thousands of Rotarians in an international “silent prayer” or act of personal devotion. Usually all Rotary International Board and committee meetings begin with a few moments of silent meditation. In this period of silence, Rotary demonstrates respect for the beliefs of all members, who represent the religions of the world.
Since each Rotary club is autonomous, the practice of presenting a prayer or invocation at club meetings is left entirely to the traditions and customs of the individual club, with the understanding that these meeting rituals always be conducted in a manner that will respect the religious convictions and faiths of all members and are nondenominational in nature.
Posted by Rotary Club of Twinsburg on Jul 01, 2016
The club has fundraisers and service events coming up!
Give our Club all the support you can to make it successful. We need all cylinders firing!!! Please do what you can to serve our club. If you not being asked to serve the club, ask where you can help!
Participate in Every Rotarian Every Year. Any amount you can contribute will help the success of Rotary International in your community and around the world. Let's try to become a 100% EREY club, where every member contributes something to the Rotary Foundation, either directly or through the club.
Think of another way in which you could serve our club, or help a committee chair with some of their responsibilities.
Posted by Rotary Club of Twinsburg on Jul 01, 2016
Things you can do to promote Rotary
1. Wear your Rotary pin daily.
2. Tell someone something about Rotary daily.
3. Invite a friend or co-worker to our next meeting or event.
4. Stay in touch with alumni.
5. Sponsor a new member to the club.
6. Give to the Rotary Foundation.
If you have any photographs or pictures of Rotary events both recent and in the past, please forward them to Philip Weiss or Laura Leonard for posting on the website. If you like we can also show you how to post them in the website yourself.
