District Governors Official Visit.
Posted by Bill Bourlet
Speaker: Kevin Conway, Governor, District 5040
Regarding service of Rotarians:
"Remember that a rank amateur built the ark and that professionals built the Titanic."
Highlights of District Governor's Talk:
Our District Governor recalled how as a youngster he felt sad when he heard about accidents, and was outraged at war, and how he mourned friends who died from polio or were unable to walk for the rest of their lives. He thought, then, that 'someone should to something about this', and blamed the medical profession for not doing enough.
As he matured, he began to ask himself the question: What might I be able to do?
Invited to a Rotary meeting, he perceived that perhaps this might be an answer to his question about how he could do something for others. He joined Rotary, but it took a few years before he became a Rotarian.
We are the custodians of Rotary's legacy and history, and our mission is to build a better Rotary.
A lot of people do not know what is Rotary. They know that Rotary has a strange wheel, but not what Rotary does.
Because of Rotary, 2 billion children will not get polio.
Because of Rotary, many children have learned to read and write.
Because of Rotary, many people have access to clean, unpolluted water.
Because of Rotary efforts, many people are living productive lives and are less inclined to take up weapons.
Because of the dedication of Rotarians, there is less poverty, less hunger, less disease, and less conflict in the word.
We have the privilege and the obligation to share Rotary with others.
Three main reasons for decreased membership in Rotary are: lack of meaningful service, poor leadership, and interpersonal conflicts among club members.
RI President Boyd has made it his mandate to strengthen clubs by focusing on
1. Strong, effective leadership
2. Increasing value brought to members for what they pay to belong to clubs; and
3. Developing a wide range of meaningful and productive local, national, and international service projects.
Ideals must be translated into practice. We should be known through our works.
A few years ago, Rotary introduced a Club Leadership Plan. Our club was one of the first, thanks to effort by Past District President Lee Higinbotham.
Strategic Planning Goals for the next 10 Years
1. Membership: We are losing members at the rate of about 10%/year. Our district membership has gone down from 2,400 to 1, 800 in the past few years. Our goal is to increase membership by 200 this year, to bring total membership up to 2,100. "Setting goals too high and missing them is not the problem; the problem is setting goals too low and achieving them."
2. Rotary Foundation: The Polio Eradication Program is the largest health initiative in the history of the world. The goal is to have every Rotarian contribute at least $100.- (US) to the Foundation every year. 50% of this money comes back to the clubs in the form of matching grants, so this is not money that only goes elsewhere.
3. Needs: There is no shortage of needs in the world. Invite others to help meet these needs. These goals are outlined in the District Directory. Members: Please read them.
Pay attention to club structure, club membership, and club projects.
Wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson: We need to have courage. There are always difficulties. There are always disparagers. Victory calls for bravery.
Dare to dream what your club can be. Dare to try something new; something different; something that has not been done before.
District 5040 Conference: Kelowna, May 2007.
· A chance to see the magnitude of Rotary projects;
· A chance to cheer Joan and Wilf Wilkinson, the first Canadian RI President (for 2007-2008) in 55 years.
The most important words in Rotary and to Rotarians are: Thank you!! Thank you for the work you do to alleviate suffering and meet challenges. You are magnificent!!
We are the custodians of Rotary's legacy and history, and our mission is to build a better Rotary.
A lot of people do not know what is Rotary. They know that Rotary has a strange wheel, but not what Rotary does.
Because of Rotary, 2 billion children will not get polio.
Because of Rotary, many children have learned to read and write.
Because of Rotary, many people have access to clean, unpolluted water.
Because of Rotary efforts, many people are living productive lives and are less inclined to take up weapons.
Because of the dedication of Rotarians, there is less poverty, less hunger, less disease, and less conflict in the word.
We have the privilege and the obligation to share Rotary with others.
Three main reasons for decreased membership in Rotary are: lack of meaningful service, poor leadership, and interpersonal conflicts among club members.
RI President Boyd has made it his mandate to strengthen clubs by focusing on
1. Strong, effective leadership
2. Increasing value brought to members for what they pay to belong to clubs; and
3. Developing a wide range of meaningful and productive local, national, and international service projects.
Ideals must be translated into practice. We should be known through our works.
A few years ago, Rotary introduced a Club Leadership Plan. Our club was one of the first, thanks to effort by Past District President Lee Higinbotham.
Strategic Planning Goals for the next 10 Years
1. Membership: We are losing members at the rate of about 10%/year. Our district membership has gone down from 2,400 to 1, 800 in the past few years. Our goal is to increase membership by 200 this year, to bring total membership up to 2,100. "Setting goals too high and missing them is not the problem; the problem is setting goals too low and achieving them."
2. Rotary Foundation: The Polio Eradication Program is the largest health initiative in the history of the world. The goal is to have every Rotarian contribute at least $100.- (US) to the Foundation every year. 50% of this money comes back to the clubs in the form of matching grants, so this is not money that only goes elsewhere.
3. Needs: There is no shortage of needs in the world. Invite others to help meet these needs. These goals are outlined in the District Directory. Members: Please read them.
Pay attention to club structure, club membership, and club projects.
Wisdom from Ralph Waldo Emerson: We need to have courage. There are always difficulties. There are always disparagers. Victory calls for bravery.
Dare to dream what your club can be. Dare to try something new; something different; something that has not been done before.
District 5040 Conference: Kelowna, May 2007.
· A chance to see the magnitude of Rotary projects;
· A chance to cheer Joan and Wilf Wilkinson, the first Canadian RI President (for 2007-2008) in 55 years.
The most important words in Rotary and to Rotarians are: Thank you!! Thank you for the work you do to alleviate suffering and meet challenges. You are magnificent!!