With ACTION, Let's Build Communities And Bridge Continents

 

The 2010-11 Rotary year here we come! Just like everyone else in the Rotary world we have spent several days in the past few months anticipating and making preparations for a new Rotary year. The year has finally begun and as I congratulate all Rotarians for being around to witness this new turn in our history, I urge you all to thank God for His mercies and pray for abundant supply of all four Ts we require to be effective Rotarians.

You are all familiar with the theme for the year which is BUILDING COMMUNITIES, BRIDGING CONTINENTS. The RI President, Ray Klinginsmith while unveiling the theme at the International Assembly told us how powerful the message is behind those four words. Like an "elevator speech" it is meant to convey a message in a few words to Rotarians and non Rotarians about what we are best at doing. "Building communities, bridging continents." We build communities through our various projects in our local communities, empowered by the five avenues of service and bridge continents when we exploit the international nature of our organization to build friendships and fellowships with Rotarians in other countries and continents and exploit these to execute joint projects including getting help from The Rotary Foundation in form of grants.

Nothing ever gets done if we only espouse those words without lifting our hands and going to work to put our words into action. As they say we need to "walk the talk". This is why, for us to achieve our aims we must take action and do so promptly too putting to use our Time, Treasures, Talent and Thinking.

Having all pledged to put action behind our words we have all agreed we shall be called "Action Rotarians" this Rotary year.

Our overall aim as advised by Ray is to build Bigger, Better and Bolder clubs.

Bigger clubs when we sustain and increase our membership base with quality members.

Better clubs when we have excellent club administrations, when Presidents take communications seriously and respond promptly, manage club funds in a businesslike manner, pay dues andlevies on time, support the Rotary Foundation, care about their members and do all within their power to make their clubs effective and functional by employing the best practices.

Bolder clubs that are ready to go forward and raise funds, develop concepts for big projects after needs assessments, follow up as needed, seek partnerships from clubs and districts in other countries and efficiently execute meaningful projects that make impacts on their communities.

As I have often stated, ther District administration can only succeed if the Rotarians and their clubs work hard and succeed. Mercifully we are empowered by the Presidential emphases and the Presidential citation so our path is paved for us and we cannot go wrong. In addition you are all familiar with the new initiatives and innovations being introduced in this year of ACTION both in terms of administration, approach to projects and the way we care about our fellow Rotarians. These we shall enumerate again in this edition of the newsletter so that no Rotarian is left behind.

Remember also that the first year of the Future Vision Plan of the Rotary Foundation begins for us now as a "Pilot District". This is an additional responsibility which we must turn into advantage in carrying out meaningful projects through the various grants and thus making a major impact on our communities.

Even though the year is only about two weeks on, it is pleasing to announce that I have already visited five clubs namely-Ikeja, Agege, Falomo, Amuwo and Maryland.

While visiting I had already commissioned a number of worthwhile projects such as the vocational centre graduation and handing over of sewing machines to the graduates, and also donation of books and mosquito nets at Agege, microcredit scheme at RC Amuwo, toilet for the cane village and donation of books at Maryland, Ikeja, a primetime interview slot with the President of RC Ikeja on LTV 8 amongst other activities.

With ACTIONS such as these we have severally executed projects that have covered at least four areas of the six Presidential emphases for the year.

Public relations which is a major plank of the strategic plan of RI and also that of our District, is also receiving prime attention. What with the TV interview the public relations seminar that held on 9th July with two guest speakers, one hundred and eighty three Rotarians and press crews from ten newspaper TV houses in attendance. Club presidents and PR chairs were equipped with new tools about the essence and methods needed for effective public relations. We are indeed "building and bridging". And Rotarians are encouraged to replicate similar activities in their clubs.

Once again I welcome you to the year of "ACTION". I urge you to put in your all as we join hands to work as a team BUILDING COMMUNITIES, BRIDGING CONTINENTS.