Areas of focus guide now available

Rotary International has released the new Rotary’s Areas of Focus Guide, a color booklet that provides an introduction to the six areas of focus, with examples of service projects for each. Download it as a PDF or order it at shop.rotary.org.

The areas of focus reflect critical humanitarian issues that Rotarians are addressing worldwide. They align Rotary with other international development efforts and promote The Rotary Foundation’s mission.

Save the Date for New Generations webinars

Whether your club is new to Rotary’s New Generations programs or already has experience with them, Rotary’s upcoming webinar series is sure to provide valuable insights. In this two-part series, learn about how your club can get involved in Interact, Rotaract, RYLA, and Youth Exchange, and hear examples of successful projects and events.

The first webinar will be held in English on 18 October at 10:00 (US/CDT) and again at 18:00 (US/CDT). Look for details about how to register for the webinar in future issues of this newsletter and in e-communications from RI.

‘Reach Within to Embrace Humanity’ is 2011-12 RI theme

By Joseph Derr
Rotary International News -- 17 January 2011

RI President-elect Kalyan Banerjee will ask Rotarians to Reach Within to Embrace Humanity during the 2011-12 Rotary year.

Banerjee unveiled the RI theme during the opening plenary session of the 2011 International Assembly, a training event for incoming district governors.

He urged participants to harness their inner resolve and strength to achieve success in Rotary.

"In order to achieve anything in this world, a person has to use all the resources he can draw on. And the only place to start is with ourselves and within ourselves," Banerjee said.

Once Rotarians find their inner strength, he continued, they can accomplish great things in their communities and around the world.

"Discover yourself, develop the strengths within you, and then unhesitatingly, unflinchingly, go forth and encircle the world, to embrace humanity," he said.

Banerjee emphasized the family as a starting point in serving others. "The communities we live in are not built of individual people but of families -- families living in homes together, sharing their lives and their resources and their common destinies. Good families lead to good neighborhoods, and good neighborhoods build good communities."

Rotarians can focus on projects that support families, such as those that provide safe housing or improve maternal and child health, he said.

Continuity in Rotary’s work, including polio eradication, is also important, Banerjee said. "There are so many things we are indeed good at: working for clean, safe water; spreading literacy; working in so many ways with the New Generations, our youth, in our newest Avenue of Service and assisting them to become the leaders of tomorrow."

Citing Mahatma Gandhi’s call to "be the change you wish to see in the world," Banerjee said Rotarians should also focus on change.

"If we wish for peace, we start by living in peace ourselves, in our homes and in our communities," he explained. "If we wish environmental degradation to stop, if we wish to reduce child mortality or to prevent hunger, we must be the instrument of that change -- and recognize that it must start within us, with each of us."

The theme inspired the roomful of Rotary leaders, including Jogesh Gambhir, governor-elect of District 3250 (India).

“It is a touching theme, but also very purposeful and meaningful,” said Gambhir. “I’m sure we can inspire the clubs into action to solve the problems in the community. That’s the ultimate goal of Rotary.”

“There are no words for me to describe how remarkable it was. To me, he was right on and weaved everything together beautifully," said Jane Millar, governor-elect of District 6290 (parts of Ontario, Canada, and Michigan, USA). "I am so thrilled to be a district governor when this man is president.

“I loved the focus on family, continuity, and change," she added. "Family is the center of everything, and not just our immediate family. It’s also about the family of Rotary and the world as one big family."

• Get theme graphics
• Send an e-card with the 2011-12 RI theme

MID-TERM SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES FOR R.Y. 2010-2011

CLUB SERVICE & FELLOWSHIP

· 1^st Club Meeting | July 17| Mc Donalds Sanciangco

· 2^nd Club Meeting | August 2| Mc Donalds Sanciangco

· 1^st DOTA Friendly Game | August 2 | Xzydd Net Shop

· Fellowship Activity | August 14 | Mega Center the Mall

· 3^rd Club Meeting | August 21| Mc Donalds Sanciangco

· RAC Induction | August 28 | Lakewood Clubhouse

· 4^th Club Meeting | September 11| RCC Clubhouse

· 5^th Club Meeting | October 2| Dunkin Donuts Gen. Tinio

· 6^th Club Meeting |October 23| Dunkin Donuts Gen. Tinio

· 7^th Board Meeting | October 29| Baguio City

· RAC Outing | October 29-30 | Baguio City

· Strategic Planning | October 30| Baguio City

· 8^th Club Meeting | November 6| RCC Clubhouse

· 2^nd DOTA Friendly Game | November 6 | Xzydd Net Shop

COMMUNITY SERVICE

· Packing of Goods for Rotary Anniversary | July 14 | RCC Clubhouse

· Hospital Visit & Gift Giving | July 15 | PJGMRMC

· Community Outreach | August 14 | Brgy. San Roque Melencio

· ALAY LAKAD | September 25 | Freedom Park, Cabanatuan City

INTERNATIONAL SERVICE

· 1^st Rotaract District Committee Meeting | July 25 | Plaza Leticia

· 2^nd Rotaract District Committee Meeting | August 14 | NVSU

· Attended RAC USLT – Citadel Induction | August 30 | Tuguegarao City

VOCATION SERVICE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

· Business Opportunity Seminar | September 11 | RCC Clubhouse

· Call Center Employment Opportunity | November 6 | RCC Clubhouse

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

· District Leadership Training | August 30 | Las Palmas, Tuguegarao City

· RAC, IAC & RCC DisCon | October 9 | La Parilla Hotel