Rotary
International President John Kenny's - Message- 2009-2010
 Dear
Fellow Rotarians:
With over a century of successful Rotary service, we are proud
to be confident of a future in which generation after generation
of Rotarians will bring hope to those in need and peace to a
world full of conflict. We see ourselves as part of a great
Rotary tradition, as links in a chain joining our future to our
past. If that chain is to continue, every link in it must be
strong. It is our responsibility, yours and mine, to forge solid
links to Rotary's future. It is our responsibility to ensure
that Rotary will be stronger next year than it is now, and even
stronger the year after that. It is our responsibility to
fulfill our promise of a polio free world today so that Rotary
can take on other great challenges tomorrow. As Mohandas Gandhi
once told us, "The future depends on what we do in the
present." If we hope to see Rotary continue through a
second century, we cannot simply leave well alone. If the road
ahead is to be long, then we will need a map to travel it - and
we have that map. With input from Rotarians worldwide, Rotary
International has developed a strategic plan with seven
priorities that set the course for a strong future. Now is the
time for us to take the initiative to make this plan a reality:
Eradicating polio is our first and main
priority. Through our fundraising challenge, we can help to
provide the resources to finish this crucial job and keep our
promise to the world.
Advancing the recognition and public image of Rotary
will help Rotary attract new members and cooperation from other
organizations. PolioPlus has given Rotary prominence on the
world stage. Now is the time to build on our international
reputation by promoting our local and global service activities
to the media and to our communities.
Increasing Rotary's capacity to provide service
speaks to the heart of Rotary's mission. Every Rotarian can
contribute to reaching this goal by volunteering a little more
time, talent, and enthusiasm along all four Avenues of Service.
In 2009-10, I will encourage Rotarians to continue to focus
their service efforts in the areas of water, health and hunger,
and literacy - vital issues that clubs have been addressing most
effectively in recent years.
Expanding membership globally in both numbers and
quality is a key priority because everything Rotary
hopes to accomplish depends on its members. Each of us is
responsible for bringing in qualified new members. Too few
Rotarians fulfill this responsibility, and only Rotarians have
the ability to increase our numbers by inviting others to join
their club.
Emphasizing Rotary's unique vocational service
commitment will enable us to distinguish Rotary from
other service and humanitarian organizations. By demonstrating
our strong commitment to high ethical standards in our
professional lives, we can provide a model for our colleagues,
our employees, our customers - even our competitors - to follow.
Optimizing leadership talents within RI is
essential to Rotary's future. Each of us should take a
leadership role, whether it be heading a club committee or
service project or serving at the district or international
level. All Rotarians are leaders in their businesses and
professions; let us be leaders in Rotary as well.
Fully implementing the strategic planning process to
ensure continuity will allow us to make a smooth
transition during the annual change in leadership at the club,
district, and international levels. Although this strategic plan
was approved by the RI Board, its implementation depends on you.
The RI president cannot invite members to join your
club. The RI Board cannot organize and promote a fundraiser in
your community to support polio eradication. Nor can any
senior leader demonstrate Rotary's code of ethics in your
workplace. The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands. This
simple truth will be our theme for 2009-10, serving as a
constant reminder of the personal responsibility that each
Rotarian holds. Winston Churchill once said: "The price of
greatness is responsibility." Rotary is a great
organization, and it has the potential to become even greater -
if each one of us rises to the challenge and takes
responsibility for its future. In Rotary, each one of us has
been assigned a job. Its title is Rotarian. Our duties are to
offer relevant service locally and internationally, and to
expand our club's capacity for service by inviting professional
and business leaders to become members and promoting a positive
image locally. Our job description also calls for each of us to
be an example of ethical behavior in our professional and
personal lives, to act as leaders in our club and community, and
to fully support Rotary's highest priority of polio eradication.
The job of Rotarian brings immense benefits. We enjoy
incomparable fellowship with one another and the great personal
satisfaction that comes from serving others. If you believe in
Rotary and its power to make a difference in the world, it is
time to stand up and commit to doing the best job you can - with
all of your mind, your heart, and your soul. The Future of
Rotary Is in Your Hands.
John Kenny
President, Rotary International, 2009-2010 |
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