A Season to Share & Care

 

Rotary can be defined as an organisation of people, a social unit, living together. The Rotary family is not what it used to be. It’s not breaking up…its building stronger and closer through the use of technology. We should all consider ourselves as a part of this big family. It encompasses our Rotarian’s family members, spouses, widows and widowers, children, grandchildren and other relatives.

In pursuing the first Object of Rotary, we seek “to encourage and foster the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.”  Friendship and fellowship was the foundation, the bedrock on which Rotary service was built.

As individuals we often create our own family – a group of people who have become important in our lives. The family of choice may include members of our family of origin but will also include friends, neighbours or significant work colleagues. If a problem starts to affect an individual in the family then everyone in that family is affected too. This is why a Rotary Club that has not built a strong family of Rotary amongst its members, breaks up and is unable to confront even a small challenge. We need to learn from the past by increasing the support to family ties amongst our members. This will certainly lead to increased happiness in the Club. Programmes and service that meet the basic needs and support family values should be introduced. Career guidance programmes to meet children’s’ needs will promote goodwill and strengthen the bonds of friendship amongst the Rotarians.

If everyone in a family starts thinking “My Rotary is My Family” then Rotary will grow and be a model for other to follow for Rotary’s success depends on the support of every Rotarian and everyone in the Family of Rotary. During the month of December, Rotary celebrates Family Month. Throughout this time, Rotarians, Interactors, Rotaractors, and RYLA participants are encouraged to celebrate Rotary's commitment to family. 

Use this time to build the connection between your family and the family of Rotary. Consider bringing along members of your family when you participate in the shared activities of Rotary's youth and young adult programs. Or organise a service project aimed at strengthening families in your community.

Membership within our Zone has been a mixed bag of success. Overall we have increased our membership by 60 from 1 July 2013. On the African continent membership is on the increase especially in Central Africa and Nigeria. The North African countries, Tunisia and Egypt are experiencing a loss of members. Over the past three years membership in Central Africa has trebled and doubled in some of the countries. What is their success attributed to? Having spoken to some senior leaders in the region, it is not different to what we are doing.

We provide the fun and fellowship and an opportunity to serve. We make our meetings attractive with a range of interesting speakers who do talks on health, professions, community, current affairs, zumba dance, golf fellowships,  picnics and so on. Do we invite our friends and spouses to join? Are they a part of the Rotary family? Do we try and match expectations of the prospective member with those of the Club and vice versa? Are we creating a balance in diversity? These are some of the things we should look at and work on because we do have a great opportunity of increasing our membership within the Zone. Let’s break away from the thoughts of putting people into boxes. Let us think outside of these boxes.

I want to take this opportunity of responding to the numerous emails that have been received by the RI 2019 Convention Bid Committee after the appalling decision taken by the RI Board at the November meeting ‘not to look with favour on Durban as the venue for the 2019 International Convention”. This small committee has worked hard and effectively for just over three years with our partners for this bid and despite meeting most of the requirements did not win the favour of the RI Board. Rotary leaders at Evanston have for many years being voicing their concerns on membership growth in Africa and especially Southern Africa and the opportunity for creating greater awareness of our organisation within our communities and the possibility of major funding from the more traditional “giving” countries has gone begging. It is not only talk that will address our need for growth within the Rotary circles but a leap of faith is also required that we in Southern Africa can and will deliver a world class event that would make Rotary proud of their decision to let us host the event. But alas it is not to be and I want to, on your behalf, express our heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to PDG Nick Phillips and the team for their tremendous perseverance, diligence and fortitude in attempting to bring the RI Convention to Durban. All is not lost for one day…one day.

Finally, the end of a calendar year is a time for celebration in any tradition. Vasanthee and I would like to take this opportunity in sending our Season Greetings to all Rotarians, Anns, Spouses, our Youth groups, Alumni and their respective families. It is the time of the year to put your feet up, relax and take stock of our achievements and to learn lessons from our challenges. It is that time of the year to renew our spirits and move into the New Year with more vigor and greater passion to serve our fellow men and grow our organisation. Travel safe, have fun and take care for ROTARY needs you.

Natty Moodley

Rotary Africa

December 2013