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Dear Fellow Rotarians,
One of the things I appreciate most about serving
as president of Rotary International is the people I get to meet.
Much of my time is spent traveling and visiting Rotary clubs around
the world. A Rotarian welcome is something quite special. But let
me tell you, there's nothing so warm as the welcomes that have been
rolled out for me by Rotaractors. These are young people who are
committed to Rotary ideals, who are pouring their hearts into service,
and who, in the process, don't forget to have fun.
One of the highlights of my recent travels was a
trip to Ghana, where I visited a district that boasts some 60 Rotaract
clubs. They aren't satisfied with that number, though — in
fact, they're excited about a plan to double it. They'll do it,
too.
Rotaractors are vaccinating children against polio. They're donating
blood where the supply is dangerously low. They're providing handwashing
facilities to schools where children previously had no way to get
clean. In short, they're all about transformational service: carrying
out projects that make a real difference in their communities.
In Nakivale, Uganda, one special Rotaract club is making a difference
in its community — which happens to be a refugee settlement.
These young leaders are turning what others might see as disadvantages
into opportunities for service, building community and opening up
new possibilities to those who are most in need of them.
In Turkey, Rotaractors are visiting children in the hospital every
Wednesday to lift their spirits by playing games with them. They
also are mentoring new students at their university and teaching
them leadership skills.
Rotaractors are blazing the path for Rotary to be more relevant
in this new century of service. And World Rotaract Week, which we're
celebrating 11-17 March, is the perfect opportunity to get to know
your local Rotaractors and talk to them about how your clubs can
work together. If your Rotary club doesn't already sponsor a Rotaract
club, know that you don't need to be near a college or university
to do it: Community-based Rotaract clubs are a great option. And
remember that Rotaractors are part of the Rotary family.
When Rotaractors are ready to leave their Rotaract club, we don't
want them to leave that Rotary family behind. I'm asking all Rotarians
to help them make the transition into a Rotary club or to start
a new one: I'm happy to charter as many new clubs as we need to
give everyone a place where they feel at home while making the world
a little better. Service should be fun, it should be inspirational,
and it should be open to all.
If there's one thing Rotary has always excelled at, it's diversity.
In the past, that often meant diversity of profession, nationality,
and outlook. We've made great strides when it comes to diversity
of age and gender, and as we welcome more Rotaractors into our organization,
we'll become even stronger.
Rotary is powerful. Together with Rotaract, it is
unstoppable. Working side by side, we have the potential to Be the
Inspiration in every part of society, to every person we meet.
Barry Rassin
President 2018-19
Trustee Chair's Message - Mar.
2019
Ron D. Burton, Trustee Chair
2018-19
Trustee chair's message
The last quarter of the Rotary year is approaching, and
it's time to check our progress. In January a year ago,
we set a series of fundraising goals, and this June, we
will give ourselves a report card. What will it be?
As Rotary Foundation trustee chair, I am looking forward
to telling you at the Rotary International Convention what
we all most want to hear: that we not only met our goals,
but exceeded them.
That's because each of those goals corresponds directly
to progress in each of our six areas of focus.
In 2017-18, we approved 1,300 global grants. Those grants
funded large, international projects with measurable, sustainable
outcomes. Some were to keep newborn babies alive. Some were
to bring clean drinking water and sanitary toilets to communities.
And some went to economic development in poor areas. But
every dollar had an impact — the kind of impact that
lasts.
But there's something else just as important: making sure
we can continue doing this long into the future.
That's where our goal for the Endowment comes in. Our Rotary
Endowment is our promise to tomorrow — that our service
to humanity will continue, that we will never give up.
Our goal for the Endowment this year is $26.5 million in
direct gifts, with an additional goal of $35 million in
commitments. But that's not all we're aiming for. We also
have a long-term goal: reaching $2.025 billion in 2025.
Bringing the Endowment to that level will ensure that the
World Fund has annual income to fund Foundation programs
year in and year out. This money will go in perpetuity to
the programs you have determined to support through your
gift to the Endowment. If each of us supports our Endowment,
we can truly make Our Legacy, Rotary's Promise.
Together, we can make our Foundation even stronger, so that
we can do even more good in the world.
Ron D. Burton
Trustee Chair 2018-19
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