Rotary
International President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson's - Message- 2007-2008
 Dear
fellow Rotarians,
Rotarians are a varied lot. We come from dozens of countries,
speak hundreds of languages, and adhere to a wide spectrum of
religious, political, and philosophical beliefs. If one strong
common thread exists among our 1.2 million members, it is our
willingness to share. Rotarians share their time, their talents,
their expertise, and their money to successfully carry out
projects that tackle a vast range of humanitarian and social
issues. They share their compassion, their enthusiasm, and their
commitment to help those in need and make the world better. And
they share an unparalleled passion for service that has made
Rotary the world's premiere service organization.
It is this fundamental spirit of generosity that I have tried to
capture in our theme for 2007-08: Rotary Shares. I hope
that it serves as both a point of pride for all Rotarians and a
motivating force for our activities in the coming year.
Sharing is a concept generally associated with promoting the
greater good, but it is also an individual action, a personal
choice. Each one of us decides how much of our time and energy
we want to share with Rotary, which ultimately determines how
much each club can share with its local community and
communities abroad. For that reason, I urge you to become more
personally involved in Rotary and to actively participate in
both service projects and membership development.
My call for individual involvement includes everyone in the
family of Rotary, another emphasis that I want to continue. Our
far-reaching family encompasses Rotarians and their families,
Rotaractors, Interactors, Youth Exchange students, the widows
and widowers of former Rotarians, and others who collectively
work to promote Rotary's goals and ideals. Together, we can
promote Rotary's programs throughout the world, handing down the
ideals of service and fellowship from one generation to the
next.
Continuity is essential to Rotary's success, and so health,
literacy, and water will remain our service emphases for the
year. For many clubs, that will mean continuing ongoing,
successful projects in their communities and internationally.
For those who want to start new projects, I urge you to think
creatively and consider some new approaches. For example, let's
look at how we can use new technologies to purify water, teach
people to read, or provide safe sources of energy for homes.
Then let's share those innovative solutions with other Rotary
clubs that are looking for successful project ideas.
As they make plans for 2007-08, I also encourage clubs to
consider the United Nations Millennium Development Goals,
especially the Millennium Villages project in sub-Saharan
Africa. Like our Rotary Community Corps (RCC), these villages
employ a bottom-up approach to helping communities pull
themselves out of extreme poverty. Let us share the knowledge we
have gained in promoting self-sufficiency through RCCs to
support this important goal.
Our theme for 2007-08 is reversible: Rotary Shares and
so we must all share Rotary. During the first three decades of
my life as a Rotarian, Rotary was growing steadily. No thanks to
me, however, as I never brought in any new members. When
Rotary's numbers began to drop in existing clubs, however, I
suddenly realized that the organization I had come to care about
so deeply would not simply continue to grow on its own. I
understood then that I - and every other Rotarian - share the
responsibility of bringing new members into our ranks, and it
was time that I did my part.
In the coming year, I will be encouraging each one of you to do
your part and share Rotary with other business and professional
leaders in your community. I have set a goal for every Rotarian
on my leadership team of directors, training leaders, membership
coordinators, district governors, and club presidents to bring
in at least one new member in 2007-08. I'm even asking all the
past RI presidents to join us in this effort. Moving on from
there, I have established a plan for recognizing all Rotarians
who bring in new members. Working together, let us share the
responsibility for Rotary's growth and make all our clubs
stronger and more viable.
The dedicated Rotarians who develop dynamic project ideas and
galvanize other members to action form the backbone of every
club, but there are too few of them. I believe that every one of
us could be that kind of Rotarian if we just take that important
first step toward personal involvement - if we just say yes.
Yes, I will lead that project. Yes, I will bring
in a new member. Yes, I will share my ideas and my
resources to make my club stronger.
I'm convinced that 1.2 million involved and active Rotarians can
finish the job on polio eradication; carry out projects
involving health, water, and literacy; promote the cause of
peace to every part of the globe; and clearly and powerfully
demonstrate to the world that Rotary Shares. |
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