November 2009 - Rotary Foundation

President's Message

The Future of the Rotary Foundation is in Your Hands

“We will not fail…we can and we must succeed…If we fail now, we will fail …every child to whom we made a promise.  If we fail, we risk our own good name, and the good name of all Rotarians who came before us”

John Kenny’s succinct message to us in November, on this, Rotary Foundation month, reminds us all of our greatest strength as Rotarians: the mission of the Rotary Foundation.  The mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

Recently, this mission has been changed, with a new motto- Doing Good in the World.  I learned of this change, while speaking with Mr. Roy Adams, one of the many Past Presidents in our State College Evening Rotary Club. One of Roy’s “passions” as a Rotarian is the Foundation.  He presently serves as District 7350 Annual Programs Fund Chair, and will be speaking with all of us in our club, during Rotary Foundation Month, on this very subject of the Rotary Foundation, and Rotary’s change in focus.  “This change was approved by the Foundation Trustees, the RI Board, and endorsed by the Council on Legislation”, states Mr. Adams.  The changes are designed to gain greater understanding of the Foundation’s work, thus enhancing Rotary’s public image.

Mr. Adams also reminded me, as does John Kenny, that each Rotary club is only as strong as it’s support of the Rotary Foundation.  Both the Club and Foundation are equal pillars of strength.

The future Vision Plan, in line with the new mission, is designed to simplify Foundation programs where they will have the greatest impact, by addressing priority world needs.  In addition, more decisions will be transferred to the districts, thus increasing the sense of ownership at the district and club levels. 

Through Rotary Foundation Global Grants, the six areas of focus that correspond to the Foundation’s mission are:

·          Peace /Conflict Resolution

·          Disease prevention and treatment

·          Water/Sanitation

·          Maternal/Child Health

·          Basic Education/Literacy

·          Economic/Community Development

How can we, as individual Rotarians in our respective clubs, contribute to the Foundation’s mission?  First, by fulfilling our club’s yearly $100.00 EREY (Every Rotarian, every year) Goal.  Second, by applying for, and matching, District Simplified Grants. 

The key, according to Roy Adams, is that “part of every dollar that goes into the Rotary Foundation comes back to our District and part of that comes back to the club, and is ours to use.”  Further, ”every dollar we contribute goes towards our Paul Harris Fellow recognition…this shows your commitment, as a Rotarian, to the Rotary Foundation.  It makes a difference in the world.”

For more information on the Rotary Foundation, please access this link through http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/TheRotaryFoundation

                                                                                                  President Ray

2009-2010 Monthly Rotary International Themes

2009  July (Induction/Organization)     August (Membership & Extension)      September (New Generations)  

October (Vocational Service)       November  (Rotary Foundation)     December (Family)

2010  January (Rotary Awareness)  February (World Understanding)    March (Literacy)

April (Magazine)    May (Year in Review)     June (Fellowship)