"Light Up Rotary" is Rotary International's New Theme for 2014 - 2015

This is my challenge to you. How you Light Up Rotary, how you light your own candle, is up to you "Light up Rotary."

Confucius once said: "It is better to light a single candle, than to sit and curse the darkness." Although the Chinese philosopher died nearly 2,400 years before Rotary was founded, RI President 2014/15 Gary C.K. Huang calls him "the world's first Rotarian." Inspired by his teachings, Huang chose Light Up Rotary as his theme for 2014-15.

"There are so many problems in the world, so many people that need help. Many people say, 'There's nothing I can do.' So they sit there doing nothing. Meanwhile everything stays dark," Huang told the 537 district governors and their spouses and partners who are attending the 2014 International Assembly in San Diego, California.

"The Rotary way is the Confucius way. The Rotary way is to light a candle. I light one, you light one, 1.2 million Rotarians light one. Together, we light up the world," said Huang, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Taipei in Taiwan.

After announcing his theme at the opening session of the five-day training meeting, Huang urged club members to Light Up Rotary in the coming year by hosting a Rotary Day in their community and including local Rotaract and Interact members in their service projects.

"How you Light Up Rotary is up to you," Huang said. "You know where you are strong, you know what your community needs, and you know how you can help."

Huang says his vision for Rotary is to increase membership to more than 1.3 million.

“To increase our membership, we must go beyond borders to wherever we see growth potential, such as the countries of China, Mongolia, and Vietnam. I will put an emphasis on increasing female and younger members,” Huang says. “I will also encourage former Rotarians to once again be part of our Rotary family.”

Huang has served as the chair of Taiwan Sogo Shinkong Security Co., Ltd., Shin Kong Life Real Estate Service Co., and P.S. Insurance Agency, Inc. and director of Federal Corporation and managing director of Taipei Life-Line Association.

He is a past president of Malayan Overseas Insurance Co. and charter secretary general of the Council for Industrial and Commercial Development in Taiwan.

A Rotarian since 1976, Huang has served as RI vice president, director, Rotary Foundation trustee, district governor, International Assembly training leader, regional session leader, task force member and coordinator, and committee member and chair.

Convener of the 2000 Hong Kong, 2011 Kuala Lumpur, 2002 Manila, and 2003 Singapore Rotary Institutes, he also served as chair of the 2002 Taipei Presidential Conference. He is chair of the Council of Past District Governors in Taiwan.

Huang created 19 new clubs in 1986-87 as governor of District 345, which included Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan.

Huang has been awarded the National Civic Service Award by the Federation of Non-Profit Associations and the Outstanding Community Service Award by the Ministry of the Interior, R.O.C. He is a recipient of the RI Service Above Self Award and the Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service.

Huang and his wife, Corinna Yao, have three children.

For more on the Rotary theme and Gary C. K. Huang's bio, please visit the sites below:

http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/presidents/2014huang/theme.htm#.U6HBT2lOU3E

http://www.rotaryfirst100.org/presidents/2014huang/bio.htm#.U6HEGmlOU3E