Rotary activities are always a bit slow in August, due to vacation time, and the dog days of summer which cause humans and pets to slow down. Nevertheless, it is a perfect time to think through what our Clubs will be doing this Fall and through this Rotary year.
We have some key District objectives that we must commence as soon as possible:
As we begin the new Rotary year, your District is available to support your Rotary and Rotaractor Club in your efforts to have:
- Meetings that members enjoy
- Service projects that all members can participate in
- Publicity that highlights the activities of our Clubs.
Success in carrying out these three essential Rotary activities will enable your Clubs to retain your current members and attract new members.
We encourage Clubs to call upon your Area Governor as you plan your meetings, service projects and public image and to check your email and the District website/Facebook page for information about District resources and events that will be available during the year to help Clubs with these essential Rotary activities.
August is Membership and New Club Development Month, when Rotary Clubs, around the world focus on membership in Rotary.
Does your club have a plan? Are you executing your own plan to invite your friends and business associates to join your Rotary Club?
President Shekhar says ' "Each One, Bring One". It’s time. Time to celebrate your Rotary club, your members, and the good you do in your community and around the world.
We now have nearly 40 volunteers working on the various District committees and leadership positions. These volunteers are from clubs across our District. The two Deputy Governors who are managing these committees and positions are: PDG Greg Acaro and District Governor Nominee the Rev. J Loren Russell. PDG Mahbub Ahmad is assisting me as Vice-Governor and District Executive Secretary. Our Vice-Governor and Deputy Governors are at present having Zoom meetings with each committee or function to determine the committee’s or function’s goals for this Rotary Year. These Zoom meetings are quite necessary in order to kick off this Rotary Year.
We are having a Zoom meeting with the District Leadership Team in early September. The purpose of this meeting is to become familiar with the reorganization of our District’s new management structure and for us all to get acquainted. We will send all of you an agenda and for Area and Assistant Governors and committee chairs to be given responsibilities in this Zoom meeting. It is very important that our entire team attend this Zoom call. When the situation permits, we will convene in-person District meetings..
One matter that we at District feel very strongly about is encouraging greater diversity in the membership of our Clubs. While we are not a social club, our principal purpose is to aid humanity with sustainable and robust projects that benefit those of us who are in need. Having good relationships with others who wish to aid humanity is also a benefit of Rotary membership. To develop and sustain good relationships our Clubs must provide good humanitarian projects and seek out others to join who also want to benefit humanity. Social clubs tend to seek new members that are similar to existing members. As we are not merely a social only club, we need to seek new members who want to benefit humanity with quality projects, irrespective of race, religion, sex and other matters that tend to separate people.
WHAT IS THE ROTARY FOUNDATION’S ANNUAL FUND?
The Annual Fund is the primary source of unrestricted support for the programs of The Rotary Foundation. From digging clean water wells for villages in Africa to teaching basic literacy skills to children in Latin America, during any given moment in a day, thousands of Rotarians volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that all contributions given to the Annual Fund are spent wisely on quality Rotary projects.
The Annual Fund is the primary source of unrestricted support for the programs of The Rotary Foundation. From digging clean water wells for villages in Africa to teaching basic literacy skills to children in Latin America, during any given moment in a day, thousands of Rotarians volunteer their time and expertise to ensure that all contributions given to the Annual Fund are spent wisely on quality Rotary projects.
In the 2019-20 Rotary year, $123.6 million was donated to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund. The Annual Fund is comprised of donations from Rotarians, friends of Rotary, corporations, workplace giving and can be matched by corporate matching gifts to leverage your donation. There is even an online resource that allows you to see if your company has a charitable matching program…check it out at: www.rotary.org/matchinggifts .
Will you support the Annual Fund with a monthly gift this year? Rotary Direct is a great way for you to donate monthly - you can "set it and forget it."
Your District team wishes all of our District Rotarians a wonderful and relaxing summer and holiday period.
George C. McKinnis, District Governor, District 7230
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