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I consider it a great honour to be your District Governor for 2007/8. |
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Wilfred Wilkinson, the President of Rotary International, has asked us to continue
the emphasis on Water Management, Literacy, Health and Hunger
and The Family of Rotary. I know that many of your club projects are geared to
one or more of these and I wish you continued success with existing ones and good
luck as you develop new ideas. |
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The RIBI President, Allan Jagger, and the RIBI Council have agreed that, for 2007/8,
we will continue support for the Institute of Cancer Research but that the main
focus this year will be on the Rotary Foundation
and Membership. |
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Rotary Foundation is our charity and it does wonderful work and
we should have no difficulty supporting it – full details are available on www.rotary.org/foundation.
We are asked to contribute the equivalent of
$100 US for each member. This is no
more than £1 per week at present and can be either donated by Rotarians (using gift
aid if you wish) or raised through events.
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We should all be proud of our organisation’s achievements locally and internationally.
Rotary clubs throughout the world have come very close to eliminating polio – a
fantastic achievement. Rotary projects alleviate suffering and hardship by supplying
medical skills, emergency shelter, drinking water and education to people, often
in desperate circumstances. Add to that the benefits that Rotarians deliver within
local communities, whether by fundraising or by countless hours of community service
and the collective value becomes clear. The factor often overlooked is just how much we, as Rotarians, enjoy what we do; the wonderful friendships we make. Being
part of The Family of Rotary is, itself, a truly rewarding experience. |
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I am so grateful that I was asked to join Rotary, I think that most of us
are. This year we need to Share Rotary. So often discussions about
recruitment turn into a list of reasons (or are they excuses?) for not recruiting!
Of course family structures and working lives have evolved and changes may be needed
within clubs to make sure that we are able to retain busy members and ready to welcome
new ones. Recruitment and retention of members is key and we must remove the barriers
to fulfilling membership. Changes, in the interest of the club’s future and the
people we serve, must not be held back by selfish personal interest. |
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Identifying the right way ahead and implementing the changes needed are real
challenges but, if we work together, share ideas and experiences we can make real
progress. Many clubs have already. I am convinced that potential Rotarians care
just as much as they always have and will want to join an
organisation made up of
enthusiastic members clearly enjoying themselves using their time, energy and skills
for the benefit of others – provided we are ready to extend a warm welcome to them. |
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I wish all Rotarians a successful, productive and, most of all, enjoyable year.
I look forward to meeting you – let's share Rotary and show that ROTARY SHARES!
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