2007-2008 Theme "Rotary Shares"
Rotary International Past Pres. Wilfrid Wilkinson
Dear fellow Rotarians,
Rotarians are a varied lot.
We come from dozens of
countries, speak hundreds
of languages, and adhere
to a wide spectrum of
religious, political, and
philosophical beliefs.
If one strong common
thread exists among our
1.2 million members, it is our willingness to share.
Rotarians share their time, their talents, their
expertise, and their money to successfully carry out
projects that tackle a vast range of humanitarian
and social issues. They share their compassion, their
enthusiasm, and their commitment to help those
in need and make the world better. And they share
an unparalleled passion for service that has made
Rotary the world's premiere service organization.
It is this fundamental spirit of generosity that I have
tried to capture in our theme for 2007-08: Rotary
Shares. I hope that it serves as both a point of pride
for all Rotarians and a motivating force for our
activities in the coming year.
Sharing is a concept generally associated with
promoting the greater good, but it is also an
individual action, a personal choice. Each one
of us decides how much of our time and energy
we want to share with Rotary, which ultimately
determines how much each club can share with
its local community and communities abroad. For
that reason, I urge you to become more personally
involved in Rotary and to actively participate in
both service projects and membership development.
My call for individual involvement includes everyone
in the family of Rotary, another emphasis that I want to
continue. Our far-reaching family encompasses Rotarians
and their families, Rotaractors, Interactors, Youth
Exchange students, the widows and widowers of former
Rotarians, and others who collectively work to promote
Rotary's goals and ideals. Together, we can promote
Rotary's programs throughout the world, handing down
the ideals of service and fellowship from one generation
to the next.
Continuity is essential to Rotary's success, and so health,
literacy, and water will remain our service emphases
for the year. For many clubs, that will mean continuing
ongoing, successful projects in their communities and
internationally. For those who want to start new projects,
I urge you to think creatively and consider some new
approaches. For example, let's look at how we can use
new technologies to purify water, teach people to read, or
provide safe sources of energy for homes. Then let's share
those innovative solutions with other Rotary clubs that
are looking for successful project ideas.
As they make plans for 2007-08, I also encourage clubs to
consider the United Nations Millennium Development
Goals, especially the Millennium Villages project in
sub-Saharan Africa. Like our Rotary Community Corps
(RCC), these villages employ a bottom-up approach to
helping communities pull themselves out of extreme
poverty. Let us share the knowledge we have gained in
promoting self-sufficiency through RCCs to support this
important goal.
Our theme for 2007-08 is reversible: Rotary Shares and so
we must all share Rotary. During the first three decades
of my life as a Rotarian, Rotary was growing steadily.
No thanks to me, however, as I never brought in any
new members. When Rotary's numbers began to drop
in existing clubs, however, I suddenly realized that the
organization I had come to care about so deeply would
not simply continue to grow on its own. I understood
then that I - and every other Rotarian - share the
responsibility of bringing new members into our ranks,
and it was time that I did my part.
In the coming year, I will be encouraging each
one of you to do your part and share Rotary with
other business and professional leaders in your
community. I have set a goal for every Rotarian on
my leadership team of directors, training leaders,
membership coordinators, district governors,
and club presidents to bring in at least one new
member in 2007-08. I'm even asking all the past RI
presidents to join us in this effort. Moving on from
there, I have established a plan for recognizing all
Rotarians who bring in new members. Working
together, let us share the responsibility for Rotary's
growth and make all our clubs stronger and more
viable.
The dedicated Rotarians who develop dynamic
project ideas and galvanize other members to
action form the backbone of every club, but there
are too few of them. I believe that every one of us
could be that kind of Rotarian if we just take that
important first step toward personal involvement
- if we just say yes.
Yes, I will lead that project.
Yes, I will bring in a new member.
Yes, I will share my ideas and my resources to make
my club stronger.
I'm convinced that 1.2 million involved and active
Rotarians can finish the job on polio eradication;
carry out projects involving health, water, and
literacy; promote the cause of peace to every
part of the globe; and clearly and powerfully
demonstrate to the world that Rotary Shares.
Wilfrid J. (Wilf) Wilkinson
President, Rotary International, 2007-08