We were delighted to welcome Rtn. Roger Kirton from RC Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago to our meeting on July 9th.
President Joel used the meeting to shoe a clip from RI President Mark Maloney's address which encapsulated the strategic pillars of Rotary starting on July 1st this year. These "priorities are expanded upon in the read more section below. RI President Mark asserts that as Rotarians reach out and connect with others, we will form deeper relationships than we ever thought possible and we will through these relationships make lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.
This is an exciting time to be a Rotarian as we build on the momentum that was generated in the last Rotary year as we were the Inspiration to the world in so many ways.
President Joel then showed a video of a speech at the Hamburg Convention by Rotaractor Chris Wells who spoke impressively on Fellowship and Doing Good in the World - Dogoodery!
An excellent meeting of fellowship and some stayed on after for a final drink together.
Action Plan
As People of Action, we share a strong sense of purpose.
More than a century ago, we pioneered a new model of service leadership grounded in person-to-person connections. Today, those connections are a network that spans the globe—bridging cultural, linguistic, generational, and geographic barriers—and shares the vision of a better world.
As People of Action, we understand that fulfilling that vision requires a plan.
This is Rotary’s plan for the next five years: to increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance participant engagement, and increase our ability to adapt.
By helping to realize the goals of this plan, you ensure a stronger and even more effective future for Rotary—a tremendous legacy. Our plan is rooted in our tried-and-true values and builds on the remarkable capabilities and spirit of Rotarians.
It is clear-eyed about the challenges that Rotary and the world face. It protects the value of human connection in an age of technology. It lays out a path for bringing great ideas to the forefront of the global imagination of what’s possible.
And our plan will provide us with a continuity of vision from year to year, keeping us moving toward fulfilling our shared purpose.
This is our Action Plan.
Increase Our Impact
People of Action are effective problem-solvers.
Why do Rotarians achieve so much? We invest in relationships. We make decisions grounded in evidence. We know how to mobilize our networks to create solutions that last. And we’re always learning from our experiences in projects, clubs, and careers.
Throughout the fight to end polio, we’ve shown what we can do when we draw on our collective strengths. We’ve created solutions that match the people they serve. We’ve evaluated the results to learn from our successes and setbacks.
This is a model we will use again and again in pursuit of our audacious goals: educating the world’s children, ensuring equitable access to water and sanitation, helping local economies grow sustainably, and so much more.
Let’s seek out new ways to translate our expertise into making a difference—in our communities and across the globe. Let’s prove that our impact on the world has only just begun.
Expand Our Reach
People of Action activate and inspire one another.
We know that our capacity to make a difference is larger when more people unite with us. We want the world to appreciate our ambitious, compassionate, and inclusive spirit—because when they do, they see that Rotary is the source for the person-to-person involvement so many are seeking.
Told widely and emphatically, our stories give people hope that the world can change for the better, inviting listeners to imagine themselves as part of that change, too.
Let’s build connections and opportunities that will allow people who share our drive to do the same.
Enhance Participant Engagement
People of Action strive to understand the needs of others.
Just like the people and communities we serve, our participants need to feel seen and heard. They’re seeking experiences that feel personally and professionally relevant and fulfilling. When they see our dedication to investing in them at every stage of their professional life, our participants are eager to go the distance with us—even at a time when there are many other options for networking and volunteering.
Let’s recommit to putting the needs, expectations, and growth of our participants at the center of all we do.
Increase Our Ability to Adapt
People of Action are inventive, entrepreneurial, and resilient.
We’ve shown throughout our history that we excel at finding new ways to lead the world to lasting change. And we’ve proven in our own careers that we know how to help organizations of every kind move forward. That’s why new approaches to our organizing principles don’t threaten our sense of who we are.
We’re ready to seek out fresh opportunities, create more paths to leadership, open up our conversations to diverse voices, and simplify how we operate—with confidence.
Let’s stay true to ourselves and stay ahead of change in our next 115 years.