The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands
Posted by Lisa Griffin
New RI President John Kenny has selected the theme "The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands" for his Rotary year. President Kenny believes that the future success of Rotary lies in the hands of individual Rotarians working at the club level. I couldn't agree more.
The 2009-10 RI theme, The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, emphasizes the role individual clubs will play in the future of the organization. Kenny has urged districts and clubs to align their goals with the strategic plan and to develop service projects within three areas of emphasis: water, health and hunger, and literacy.
"Water is a main emphasis because it is the first necessity for every man, woman, and child," he explains. "We could, I suppose, live without oil, but none of us can live without water."
Clubs and districts are already busy with hands-on projects. Clubs in District 5950 (Minnesota, USA) are working to provide safe drinking water to people in Uganda displaced by civil war, according to District Governor Sandra Schley.
In District 9210 (Malawi; Mozambique; Zambia; Zimbabwe), District Governor Stallard Mpata will work with clubs to improve functional literacy in villages.
"We will empower rural communities to read basic information on agricultural practices to improve incomes and food security," he says.
Districts are also furthering Rotary's four Avenues of Service. "We are planning to provide vocational training to youth to provide them with opportunities for making a livelihood," says Trichur N. "Raju" Subramanian, governor of District 3140 (India).
Lip-Kee Yap, president of the Rotary Club of Singapore, would like to see his club and district develop and fund portable relief containers for victims of disasters in Asia.
"A project of this nature draws on the efforts of every service committee in our club," he says. "The reminder that The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands will resonate well in our club."
The Rotary Club of Killeen Heights has had little hands on involvment in recent years. Heeding the words of our RI President, this year we will take the future of Rotary in our hands and make a difference in the lives of children through water, health, hunger and literacy projects.
"Water is a main emphasis because it is the first necessity for every man, woman, and child," he explains. "We could, I suppose, live without oil, but none of us can live without water."
Clubs and districts are already busy with hands-on projects. Clubs in District 5950 (Minnesota, USA) are working to provide safe drinking water to people in Uganda displaced by civil war, according to District Governor Sandra Schley.
In District 9210 (Malawi; Mozambique; Zambia; Zimbabwe), District Governor Stallard Mpata will work with clubs to improve functional literacy in villages.
"We will empower rural communities to read basic information on agricultural practices to improve incomes and food security," he says.
Districts are also furthering Rotary's four Avenues of Service. "We are planning to provide vocational training to youth to provide them with opportunities for making a livelihood," says Trichur N. "Raju" Subramanian, governor of District 3140 (India).
Lip-Kee Yap, president of the Rotary Club of Singapore, would like to see his club and district develop and fund portable relief containers for victims of disasters in Asia.
"A project of this nature draws on the efforts of every service committee in our club," he says. "The reminder that The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands will resonate well in our club."
The Rotary Club of Killeen Heights has had little hands on involvment in recent years. Heeding the words of our RI President, this year we will take the future of Rotary in our hands and make a difference in the lives of children through water, health, hunger and literacy projects.